New Details On Powerful Storm Disrupting CT Holiday Travel

A powerful storm is expected to drop between 2 to 4 inches of rain on Connecticut, produce strong thunderstorms, and generate wind gusts in excess of 40 mph. The awful weather begins late Thursday evening and continues through most of Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch from late Thursday through late Friday. If you're a glass is half full person, then take solace in the fact that temps may reach into the 60s on Friday.

Before temps moderate, we're dealing with another very cold night tonight with temps in the 20s. Temps will rise during the day on Thursday but that coincides with the arrival of the heavy rain.

"A complex storm system will impact the region from late Thursday through Friday night, with heavy rain, gusty winds, and the potential for coastal flooding. 2 to 3 inches of rain is forecast, with locally higher amounts in any thunderstorms that might develop," the National Weather Service says.

Here are the specific weather watches based on where you live via the NWS:

Southern Connecticut:

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

An area of low pressure moving up the spine of the Appalachians Thursday into Friday will result in a widespread 2 to 3 inch rainfall across the region. The rain could be heavy at times, especially late Thursday night into Friday.

The heavy rain will result in the potential for flooding of urban, low lying, and poor drainage areas, as well as minor river flooding on fast responding streams. In addition, flooding
concerns could be exacerbated along the coast if the heaviest rain coincided with the Friday morning high tide.

Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties:

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are expected to impact all of Southern New England starting late Thursday night through Friday. Widepsread 1 to 3 inches of rain is expected with localized higher amounts. This, together with already saturated soils will lead to potential for modest river rises and minor to moderate flooding. Urban and poor drainage flooding is also possible.

Litchfield County:

From late Thursday night through late Friday night

Periods of moderate to locally heavy rainfall is expected from late Thursday night through Friday night. Rainfall amounts during this time frame will range from an inch to two and a half
inches.

Localized higher rainfall amounts are possible in the higher terrain, especially across the southeast facing slopes of the Catskills, Greens, Berkshires and Litchfield Hills. These
rainfall amounts, when combined with potential snowmelt, could result in modest river rises. Localized urban and small stream flooding is also possible.

Here is what Connecticut's local weather experts are predicting for the big storm:

Here is the detailed weather forecast for Southern CT:

Thursday
A 20 percent chance of rain after 3pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 46. Wind chill values between 30 and 40 early. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.

Thursday Night
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Temperature rising to around 52 by 4am. East wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday
Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog. High near 59. Southeast wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog. Low around 47. South wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 42 by 5pm.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 42.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Here is the detailed weather forecast for Northern CT:

Thursday
A chance of rain, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 47. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night
Rain, mainly after 8pm. Patchy dense fog after 10pm. Temperature rising to around 48 by 5am. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday
Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 8am. High near 58. South wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night
Rain, mainly before 10pm. Low around 46. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday
A chance of showers, mainly before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Southwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind around 8 mph.

Photo via Shutterstock