Winter Storm Warning, Watch Issued For CT, Updated Snow Totals

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for most of Connecticut beginning Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday afternoon. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Litchfield County. The impacts of the storm are starting to grow clearer along with the timing.

It appears areas along the Interstate 95 corridor are looking at the least amount of snow as more sleet and rain is forecast to mix in while areas north of Hartford and in Litchfield County will see the most snow from this storm.

The snow will begin after 5 p.m. Saturday in western parts of the state and intensify in the evening hours. It should remain all snow for all of Connecticut until after midnight and then along the coast, sleet and freezing rain will begin to mix in. In inland parts of Southern Connecticut and northern sections of the state, the snow holds on longer prior to the mixed precipitation.

On Sunday morning, all of Connecticut should experience a mix of snow, sleet and rain, and then the storm ends with a return to snow before tapering off Sunday afternoon.

Here is a detailed look at the latest projections and weather statements from the National Weather Service:

Connecticut coast or I-95 corridor: Total snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 6 inches and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch possible.

Northern sections of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties: Total snow and sleet accumulations of 4 to 8 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth to a quarter of an inch.

Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties: Total snow accumulations of 6 inches or more possible with the highest risk north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Highest potential for over a foot of snow is north of Route 2 in Massachusetts. In addition, ice accretion of one tenth to three tenths of an inch are possible, mainly to the south of the Massachusetts Turnpike, with localized amounts up to one half inch possible."

Litchfield County: Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch. Winds gusting to 25 to 30 mph Sunday afternoon. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

Timeline of Snow, Ice

I-95 Corridor:

Saturday
A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Snow before 1am, then snow and sleet between 1am and 4am, then rain and sleet after 4am. Temperature falling to near 28 by 8pm, then rising to around 33 during the remainder of the night. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. East wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday
Rain, freezing rain, and sleet before 1pm, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of snow after 4pm. Temperature falling to around 24 by 5pm. Northeast wind around 15 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 6.

Inland sections of Southern CT:

Saturday
A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. North wind 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday Night
Snow before 4am, then freezing rain and sleet. Temperature falling to near 26 by 8pm, then rising to around 32 during the remainder of the night. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. East wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Sunday
Freezing rain and sleet before 1pm, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of snow after 4pm. Temperature falling to around 24 by 5pm. Northeast wind 11 to 13 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night
A 30 percent chance of snow before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 5.

Northern CT:

Saturday
A chance of snow, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 30. North wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night
Snow before 4am, then sleet, possibly mixed with snow between 4am and 5am, then sleet, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain after 5am. The snow and freezing rain could be heavy at times. Low around 24. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Sunday
Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 2pm, then a chance of snow and freezing rain between 2pm and 3pm, then a chance of snow after 3pm. The freezing rain could be heavy at times. High near 30. Northeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

CT's weather experts predictions:

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons says, "I expect snow to develop around 7 PM Saturday evening. Snow statewide overnight going into early Sunday morning. Then, a changeover to an icy mix during the day on Sunday. Some rain in far southeastern Connecticut that will re-freeze."