CT Weather: Heavy Snow, Sleet Cause Havoc On Roadways

It was a nightmarish commute for motorists all across Connecticut as a surprise heavy snowstorm moved into the state Thursday afternoon and at times dropped two to three inches of snow per hour. The heavy snow caused numerous accidents, closed highways, and left motorists stranded for hours as the snow became too difficult to traverse.

Initially, snow totals were expected to be 1 to 3 inches on the coast and 2 to 4 inches of snow inland and in northern parts of Connecticut. But many places saw in excess of six inches of snow in a very short amount of time, which made it impossible for plow operators and the state Department of Transportation to keep up.

There have been reports of motorists sitting in their cars for hours and some people running out of gas.

One Patch reader said late Thursday, "My son has been sitting on that highway for more than 2 hours...still not moving... because traffic still at standstill."

As of 11:30 p.m. sleet had moved into the state and by early Friday the snow and ice would change to plain rain which will create a slushy morning commute to work. The rain should end by Friday morning. Once the rain ends, we're looking at a dry and cold weather weekend.

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Here are the latest advisories from the NWS:

Connecticut coast: Wet snow and mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches, highest away from the immediate coastline, and ice accumulations of a light glaze expected. Snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour possible. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.

Inland sections of Southern Connecticut: Heavy snow and then mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

Northern Connecticut: Heavy snow followed by a mixture of sleet and freezing rain. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected.

The latest from CT's local weather experts:

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This will not be a major "snowstorm," for Connecticut but what is problematic is the timing of this season's first winter storm and the fact that a period of icing is expected across all of Connecticut. Snow will begin this afternoon, quickly mix with sleet, and then change to rain by late Thursday or early Friday morning.

A Winter Storm Warning has just been added for Northern Connecticut AND inland sections of Southern Connecticut for between 4 and 7 inches of snow, while the immediate Connecticut coast may receive between 2 to 4 inches of snow and is operating under a Winter Weather Advisory.

Snow and ice will make travel very treacherous this evening and tonight. The evening commute home may be a very slippery one for motorists.

The anticipated timing of this storm has already led to some school districts to cancel after-school activities and in some cases dismiss early Thursday. (Want to know what is going on in your local community? Sign up for Patch's free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here.)

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 2 to 11 p.m. on the immediate Connecticut coast.

"WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to two inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze expected. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph.

Inland sections of Southern Connecticut have a Winter Storm Warning until 4 a.m. Friday.

"Heavy snow and then mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour possible. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph."

For Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday.

"Heavy snow followed by a mixture of sleet and freezing rain. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches and ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch expected."

Litchfield County: "Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 4 to 7 inches...Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch expected."

Here is an hour-by-hour look of snow, ice and rain that is forecast at the Connecticut coast, interior sections and Northern Connecticut:

*Connecticut coast:

2 p.m.: 34 degrees, 72 percent chance of precipitation, 20 mph wind gusts

5 p.m.: 33 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 31 mph wind gusts

8 p.m.: 33 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 37 mph wind gusts

11 p.m.: 36 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 41 mph wind gusts

2 a.m.: 36 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 38 mph wind gusts

5 a.m.: 40 degrees, 87 percent chance of precipitation, 21 mph wind gusts

8 a.m.: 40 degrees, 44 percent chance of precipitation, 18 mph wind gusts

There is a chance of snow after 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. one inch of snow is expected. Sleet is expected to mix with the snow from 2 to 8 p.m. tonight. After 8 p.m. plain rain is expected which could add up to .35 tenths of an inch of rain. The rain ends by 8 a.m. Friday.

*Inland sections of Southern Connecticut:

1 p.m.: 32 degrees, 40 percent chance of precipitation, 0 mph wind gusts

4 p.m.: 31 degrees, 84 percent chance of precipitation, 22 mph wind gusts

7 p.m.: 28 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 32 mph wind gusts

10 p.m.: 31 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 36 mph wind gusts

1 a.m.: 33 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 31 mph wind gusts

4 a.m.: 35 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 26 mph wind gusts

7 a.m.: 37 degrees, 73 percent chance of precipitation, 15 mph wind gusts

There is a chance of snow after 1 p.m. From 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. 2.1 inches of snow is expected. Sleet and freezing rain is expected to mix with the snow from 2 to 10 p.m. tonight. After 11 p.m. plain rain is expected. The rain ends by 10 a.m. Friday. A total of 4 to 7 inches of snow is now expected.

*Northern sections of Connecticut:

3 p.m.: 30 degrees, 47 percent chance of precipitation, 5 mph wind gusts

6 p.m.: 31 degrees, 86 percent chance of precipitation, 6 mph wind gusts

9 p.m.: 32 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 6 mph wind gusts

12 a.m.: 33 degrees, 100 percent chance of precipitation, 23 mph wind gusts

3 a.m.: 35 degrees, 87 percent chance of precipitation, 25 mph wind gusts

6 a.m.: 36 degrees, 87 percent chance of precipitation, 24 mph wind gusts

9 a.m.: 38 degrees, 67 percent chance of precipitation, 22 mph wind gusts

There is a chance of snow after 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. 1.2 inches of snow is expected. Sleet, freezing rain and plain rain are all expected to mix with the snow from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. tonight. The plain rain ends by late Friday morning. A total of 4 to 7 inches of snow is now expected.

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Photo credit: Lanning Taliaferro/Patch