'Tropical System' To Greatly Impact CT's Weekend Forecast: New Details Released

CONNECTICUT — A "tropical system" is expected to bring heavy rain to Connecticut through this weekend and "flash flooding" is a concern in southern portions of the state, according to local forecasters and the National Weather Service.

WFSB 3 TV Chief Meteorologist Mark Dixon with Scot Haney said "Ophelia" will develop off the coast of the Carolinas and will produce "nuisance rain (that) will impact outdoor plans here in CT."

Two inches or more of rain is possible, and Saturday appears to be the wettest of the two weekend days, forecasters said. It will also be cooler, with temperatures only in the 60s.

"As of now, it won’t be raining all day, either day. Saturday, we’re calling for periods of rain (likely the wetter of the 2 day); then, scattered showers Sunday. Both days will be cooler than normal with highs in the 60s. Rain totals of 1-2″ (locally higher) would span 24-48 hrs (if not longer if the system lingers into Monday)," Dixon and Haney wrote for WFSB 3 TV. "Provided this, the risk for flooding is not high (as opposed to if the rain happened over a shorter window of time). Based on the current storm track, while perhaps breezy at times, wind won’t be a significant issue over the weekend. There is still some uncertainty surrounding the timing and impact (where the heaviest rain falls)... "(Watch/read more at WFSB 3 TV).

The rain may linger into Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said for southern Connecticut, "For this weekend there is a low chance of flash flooding. For coastal portions, there will be potential for some coastal flooding."

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Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 7 to 14 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Tonight: A 30 percent chance of showers after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Northeast wind around 14 mph.

Saturday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 59. Northeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Saturday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 58. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 6 mph.

Saturday: Rain, mainly after noon. High near 61. Northeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain likely before 9pm, then showers likely, mainly between 9pm and 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday: Showers likely, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Northeast wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 54. Northeast wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.