Meteorological Winter Is Here: New Winter Weather Predictions For CT

CONNECTICUT — Last week, a blast of frigid weather heralded the arrival of meteorological winter on Dec. 1, but immediately gave way to mild conditions across most of Connecticut. So when can we expect sleet, snow and freezing rain? Here is a look at the latest snow forecasts and winter weather predictions.

Temperatures in Connecticut will be just around 40 degrees on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and some snow flurries are possible. Some northern areas of the state will see temperatures only into the 30s on Wednesday and Thursday. But come the weekend, highs are once again expected in the 50s.

El Niño conditions are already inevitable, according to a consensus of scientists, with sea temperatures in the Pacific several degrees warmer than usual. This warmer water impacts what weather is carried on the winds to the United States. It's now considered very likely that this will keep temperatures warmer across much of the eastern seaboard, and conditions will likely "squash any widespread and meaningful cold in Northern Eurasia and eastern North America for weeks and possibly even months to come," Judah Cohen, with the Atmospheric and Environmental Research, said last week.

The most recently updated long-range forecasts, however, advise residents not to be fooled by this warmer than usual winter. Just because the overall average will be higher, and there's a likelihood of more outlier days of unusual warmth, does not mean there won't be snow. Quite the opposite.

Connecticut, New Jersey and Rhode Island have a 33 to 40 percent chance of more precipitation, including snow, than a normal year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration Climate Prediction Center's updated forecast, issued Nov. 30.

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So when will this snow come? While some could fall in December, the bigger storms are not likely until later in the winter, according to multiple researchers. February, in particular, could be a month filled with snowstorms.

AccuWeather Long-Range Expert Paul Pastelok warned that an "early-season nor'easter can't be ruled out either as the ingredients for a snowstorm may come together sometime in November." The latest AccuWeather long-range forecast calls for several days of snow and ice storms the first week of 2024 in Hartford.

"As we get into the back end of the winter season, that will be our best opportunity to see some of these big northeast systems," Pastelok said. AccuWeather predicts the stage for nor'easters will be set in late January through February, dishing out "hefty snowfall amounts to Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and beyond."