CT's First Storm Of 2020 Emerges; New Winter Outlook

CONNECTICUT — The end of 2019 brought a slight taste of winter weather but the New Year will begin on a mild note. In fact, the first storm of 2020 will actually be more of a rain event as opposed to a snowy or ice one.

It will be a mild, sunny, 45-degree day Thursday, but the wind will make it feel a bit cooler. Rain will move in around midnight and the precipitation will continue off and on on Friday with mild temperatures into the upper 40s. The rain continues into Saturday and that night the rain may change to some snow. The snow is expected to taper off by early Sunday afternoon.

So we're looking at three days of precipitation beginning Friday morning and lasting through Sunday afternoon.

WTNH News 8 Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons says, "Quiet weather expected all day long today with temperatures getting into the middle 40s for the afternoon. Sun and clouds going back-and-forth but it will stay dry through the evening commute. Plan on rain for Friday morning. Cloudy skies and less rain for Friday afternoon. Unsettled with rain for Saturday and this rain might end as some snow Sunday morning!"

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What can Connecticut residents expect for the rest of the winter in 2020?

The first half of January appears to continue with normal temperatures, at least through Jan. 15, the National Weather Service predicts. But for the entire month of January, the National Weather Service is predicting above average temps.

The National Weather Service is predicting more precipitation than normal too. And for the next three months, the National Weather Service is predicting normal temps and normal amounts of precipitation for Connecticut. So that means we should still see a decent number of snow chances this winter.

The Weather Channel says Connecticut should be at near or slightly above normal temps for January.

"The only area where below average temperatures are anticipated in the first month of the year is from northern Montana into northern Idaho and far northeastern Washington,"the January outlook from the Weather Channel says.

The mild temperatures are due to a strong polar vortex, an area of low pressure over the poles, forecasters explain.

We hear a lot about polar vortexes in the winter, but usually associate the term with frigid cold snaps. But when the polar vortex is strong, the coldest air remains over the Arctic, the Weather Channel explains.

Don't get too excited: January is the coldest month of the year in Connecticut so you'll still have to bundle up despite the slightly warmer air.

Average high temperatures for January in Connecticut are in the 30s and average lows in the 20s.

The 10-day forecast for the region shows highs in the 40s most days. There are several chances for rain in the upcoming forecast including: Jan. 8, and then Jan. 11-16. Some snow may mix in on Jan. 8, and Jan. 13-15, according to the Weather Channel's extended forecast for Connecticut.

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The forecast for January aligns with the The Old Farmer's Almanac long-range forecast released in the fall. The centuries-old forecaster, founded in 1792, is predicting Connecticut will have a "wet and wild" winter.

That prediction contradicts the forecast from the rival Farmers' Almanac, which says the upcoming winter will be colder than normal. The folks at the Farmers' Almanac are preparing for a "frosty, wet and white" winter season.

Both outfits use secret formulas to predict the weather that they keep closely guarded, and only time — and winter — will tell which one has it right.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, the coldest outbreak of the season should arrive during the final week of January and last through the beginning of February.

Over at The Old Farmer's Almanac, forecasters say winter 2020 in the U.S. will be remembered for storms that bring an unrelenting amount of rain, sleet and snow — including seven "big snowstorms" across the country.

Here is the current forecast for Connecticut:

Tonight
Rain, mainly after 4am. Low around 38. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday
Rain, mainly before 10am. High near 46. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night
A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Light and variable wind.

Saturday
Rain. High near 44. Calm wind becoming northeast 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night
Rain before 4am, then rain and snow likely. Low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday
Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 7am, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19.