CT Weather: Snow Estimates Drop, Flooding And Ice Big Concerns

Just 24 hours ago there was a Winter Storm Watch issued for all of Connecticut in advance of an (alleged) snowstorm and as time goes by Saturday, the snow accumulation estimates continue to decrease for most of the state. Some areas of the state may now only see a slushy two inches of snow before the rain washes it all away. In fact there is a Flood Watch for the entire coast as up to two inches of plain rain is now forecast along the Interstate 95 corridor.

While the snow forecast is a bust for most of Southern Connecticut, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for interior sections of Fairfield County, Litchfield and now Hartford counties. In these areas there is a chance for between four and six inches of snow, but the biggest concern in these areas is a prolonged period of icing on Sunday morning.

And once the precipitation ends Sunday afternoon, the temps will crash and everything will freeze, which is likely to cause travel problems Sunday night and Monday morning. Wind chill factors may run 20 below zero on Monday.

Here is the evening update via the National Weather Service concerning the relevant warnings for every county in the state:

Southern Fairfield-Southern New Haven Counties: Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 6 a.m. Sunday.

Total snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected.

Southern Fairfield-Southern New Haven-Southern Middlesex-Southern New London Counties: A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 1 a.m. Sunday through Sunday afternoon. "A wintry mix this evening will changeover to rain across the watch area, and will be heavy at times overnight and into Sunday morning. Total amounts of 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches is possible, which may result in flooding of urban areas, and flashy streams.

Northern New Haven-Northern Middlesex-Northern New London Counties: A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday. "Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations of around two tenths of an inch expected."

Northern Fairfield County: A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. Sunday. "Additional snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of one tenth to locally four tenths of an inch."

Southern Middlesex-Southern New London Counties: A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. Sunday. "Total snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze expected."

Hartford County: A Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday. "Total snow accumulations of 4 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of one tenth to four tenths of an inch expected."

Tolland and Windham Counties: A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. Sunday. "Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch expected."

Litchfield County: A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Sunday. "Total snow and sleet accumulations of 5 to 10 inches and ice accumulations of up to a third of an inch expected. Winds gusting 25 to 35 mph by Sunday afternoon with some blowing and drifting snow. Snow becomes heavy at times this evening, continuing through early Sunday morning. Snow changes to a mix of sleet and freezing rain between 2 AM and 5 AM Sunday with mixed sleet and freezing rain ending late Sunday morning....Precipitation will then become scattered snow showers Sunday afternoon as temperatures fall sharply.

In Litchfield County snowfall rates could be one to two inches per hour later tonight. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

Original story filed 8 a.m. Saturday: As we were sleeping the forecast for this weekend's snow and ice storm changed significantly for Connecticut. Most of the state had its Winter Storm Watch dropped to a Winter Weather Advisory as less snow accumulation is now predicted because warmer temps are now expected during the storm.

The two exceptions are inland sections of Fairfield County and Litchfield County, which remain under a Winter Storm Warning. This is where the most snow is expected to accumulate, at least six inches or more.

But for the rest of us, New Haven, Middlesex, New London, Hartford, Tolland, Windham, and the coast of Fairfield County, we're all operating under a Winter Weather Advisory.

Here is the updated details on the snow/ice accumulation estimates, according to the National Weather Service:

I-95 corridor or the Connecticut coast: Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected.

Northern New Haven-Northern Middlesex-Northern New London: Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth to one quarter of an inch expected.

Northern Fairfield County: Total snow and sleet accumulations of 6 to 10 inches. Ice accumulations of one tenth to one quarter of an inch are expected.

Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT: Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches and ice accumulations of one tenth to four tenths of an inch expected. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

Litchfield County: Total snow and sleet accumulations of 5 to 10 inches and ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch expected. Winds gusting 25 to 35 mph by Sunday afternoon with some blowing and drifting snow.

Start and Stop Times For the Storm

At 4 p.m. there is a 40 percent chance of snow moving into Connecticut and that increases to 80 percent by 7 p.m. This is a quick moving storm as there is a 100 percent chance of precipitation between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday. By noon Sunday, there is only a 35 percent chance of precipitation.

The precipitation will remain all snow until around 2 a.m. at the Connecticut coast, which is when sleet and plain rain will mix in. In inland sections of Southern Connecticut, it remains all snow until 2 a.m. before the sleet and ice mixes in and then plain rain by 8 a.m. Sunday.

In northern Connecticut, it remains all snow until around 2 a.m. and then the sleet and ice mixes in and continues until around 1 p.m. No plain rain is expected here. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

Here is Connecticut's weather experts predictions (updated Saturday morning):

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