CT Weather: Ice A Major Concern Sunday, Flash Freeze Tonight

What a mess out there as the snow and sleet have changed to freezing rain and just plain rain in Connecticut. About 17,000 people are without power Sunday and that number is expected to climb as all of the precipitation that has fallen will freeze soon.

There are several advisories, watches and warnings still issued for Connecticut Sunday. As of noon more than 17,000 Connecticut residents are currently without power. (See related: CT Power Outages Town-By-Town January Storm).

And of 11:30 a.m., the state Department of Transportation is now reporting several accidents. The Exit 30, I-95 southbound ramp in Stratford is closed due to flooding. New York has also instituted a travel ban on I-84 for trucks and buses until 3 p.m. Sunday. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

Here are the noon updates via the National Weather Service concerning advisories, watches and warnings for Connecticut:

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for northern sections of Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties until 6 p.m. A Wind Chill Advisory is also in effect for the same areas until 1 p.m. Monday.

The NWS says, "Significant icing. Very cold wind chills expected. Additional ice accumulations of a few hundredths of an inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. Wind chills as low as 20 below zero expected.."

In Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect until 7 p.m. and a Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until noon Monday. "Significant icing. Very cold wind chills expected. Ice accumulations one quarter to one half inch. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. Wind chills as low as 25 below zero expected."

For the Connecticut coast a Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. "Shallow flooding is expected in the most vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline. Expect around 1 to 2 feet of inundation above ground level in low lying, vulnerable areas. Some roads and low lying property including parking lots, parks, lawns and homes/businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience shallow flooding."

Also the NWS says that for the Connecticut coast that a "A flash freeze is possible this evening into early Monday morning. Dangerous wind chills 10 to around 15 below zero are possible tonight into Monday morning."

And a Flash Flood Watch is in effect until 1 p.m. the Connecticut coast until 1 p.m. as heavy rain will end, dropping more than two inches of rain on the area.

And in Litchfield County, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. and a Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. "Heavy mixed precipitation of sleet and freezing rain transitioning back to snow in the afternoon. Very cold wind chills expected. Additional snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches... Wind chills 15 to 24 degrees below zero expected. Winds will gust to 25 to 35 mph this afternoon into tomorrow."

Patch will updated weather, traffic and power outages throughout the day. Please come back and refresh this link for real-time updates. Stay safe.

Photo credit: Danbury Fire Department