Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For Connecticut

Think of today as the calm before the storm moves in on Tuesday in Connecticut. WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons says the weather on Tuesday will be "very rough" as we'll be dealing with heavy rain, thunderstorms and dangerous wind gusts at times too. The inclement weather could last into early Thursday but the heaviest of the rain is expected late Tuesday into early Wednesday.

Connecticut definitely needs the rain as the entire state is back into drought conditions. Most areas are running a deficit of three inches of rain, and this storm could easily produce two inches or more. A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for the entire state, and a Special Weather Statement and Dense Fog Advisory have been issued for the fog this morning, which could make driving difficult.

According to the National Weather Service for southern Connecticut, "A cold front will approach the region tonight and slowly cross the area Tuesday into Wednesday. Ahead of the front, gusty winds are expected and there is a chance for isolated damaging wind gusts in any lines of convection Tuesday and Tuesday night. The slow moving front will also bring heavy rain to the region, with 2 to 3 inches of rain likely and localized swaths of 3 to 5 inches possible. This presents an areawide threat for minor urban and small stream flooding, with a localized threat for flash flooding."

For northern Connecticut, "A period of southerly wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph are possible Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning with a low risk for a few gusts up to 60 mph. The highest risk for these strong wind gusts will be across eastern MA and RI. Most trees are still close to fully leafed, so these wind gusts may bring an increased risk for some downed trees and isolated to scattered power outages. Periods of heavy rain will also bring the risk of some urban/street flooding Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday," the National Weather Service states.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons said, "Warm temperatures today with lots of clouds and some noticeable humidity. High temperatures today around 70. A few scattered showers tonight and Tuesday during the day followed by very rough weather Tuesday night. I’m expecting thunderstorms, strong gusty winds and heavy rain Tuesday night along with power outages! Be ready for that!"

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*Here's the updated forecast for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: Areas of dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Light east wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Tonight: Areas of drizzle before 2am, then areas of drizzle with a chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind 11 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday: Showers. Patchy fog before 2pm. High near 72. South wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 64. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 69. Southwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64.

*Here's the updated forecast for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: Patchy dense fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 71. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog between 3pm and 4pm. High near 72. South wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 11pm, then showers between 11pm and 2am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 7pm. Low around 62. South wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Wednesday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then showers likely. Patchy fog before 11am. High near 69. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers between 8am and 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 63.

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