WEATHER UPDATE: Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued for Granby

It’s only fitting after the winter we’ve had that snow is in the forecast for the first day of spring.

The National Weather Service has issued a “Winter Weather Advisory” for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties for most of Friday.

A “Hazardous Weather Outlook” has also been issued for Hartford and Tolland counties.

A total of 2-4 inches of snow is forecast for the advisory counties, while 2-3 inches is forecast for Hartford and Tolland counties. Higher amounts are possible in certain areas.

Timing

The National Weather Service predicts snow will begin falling as soon as the morning commute in parts of the state, and continue through Friday’s commute home from work for the areas when an advisory has been posted.

For Hartford and Tolland counties snow will start later and isn’t expected to pick up in intensity until late afternoon and evening on Friday.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons writes snow should begin around noon and blanket the entire state by 3 p.m. He predicts communities closest to the shoreline, especially those communities closer to the New York line in Fairfield County will receive the most snow, possibly 5 inches or more.

Simmons predicts the heaviest snow falls between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday. He also writes it’s possible some schools will have an early dismissal on Friday.

The National Weather Service writes hazardous travel conditions are possible due to reduced visibility and snow covered roads.

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Darren Sweeney writes “the first hours of spring will feature.. Snow. ( t hurts to even type this)

Friday: it looks like snow begins during the afternoon and could become moderate to even heavy for a time during the evening. Tough to accumulate during the daytime this time of year but we have a shot at it, especially since the heaviest comes around the time the sun sets.

Cruel for the first day of spring? YES!

IT SHOULD BE WORTH REMINDING.. this time of year any slight shifts and any subtle changes can mean big big changes, often times leading to busted forecasts. This is not a lock by any stretch.Snow wraps Friday night, near 40° over the weekend.”

Image via Shawn Semmler/Flickr Commons

Here is the latest hyperlocal National Weather Service forecast:

FridaySnow likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday NightA chance of snow, mainly before 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Light and variable wind becoming north around 6 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

SaturdayA slight chance of snow before 11am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 11am and noon, then a slight chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 24.