Connecticut Weather: Icy Friday, Snowy Christmas Day

This latest forecast for Connecticut is less than ideal with so many people expected to travel this Christmas weekend. Beginning this afternoon snow and ice will develop across the entire state, which is expected to lead to a slippery evening commute. Inland and northern areas of the state will have to deal with an extended period of icing tonight and early Saturday, while areas immediately on the coast will still see a mix this afternoon but it's expected to change to plain rain quickly as temperatures climb.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Connecticut except for the immediate coast. Most of the state will see both a minor snow and ice accumulation but any amount of ice will make travel extremely difficult this afternoon/evening.

After the snow, ice and rain departs Saturday, all eyes turn toward Christmas Eve where accumulating snow is now expected. Odds of accumulating snow have risen to around 70 percent, according to the National Weather Service.

On Friday morning, the National Weather Service gave its initial snow accumulation estimates for the Christmas Eve/Christmas Day snow. The weather service is predicting 1 to 3 inches of accumulation statewide by late Christmas morning. If you do have travel plans on Christmas Day, the good news is that the snow should end between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Fox 61 Meteorologist Rachel Frank‏ said, "Prospects for snow on Christmas morning look better and better at every turn."

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan said, "Turning icy later (Friday)! Looks like a prolonged period of light and occasional freezing rain across parts of the state (this) evening, night, and into Saturday. Untreated surfaces will be slippery! Even near New Haven some ice is possible and gradually temperatures will warm above 32 degrees across the state on Saturday. At this point power outages are not anticipated but you'll need plenty of salt to keep the driveway, sidewalk, and deck ice free!"

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons said, "Few flurries today-mix to rain shoreline later in the afternoon/evening. Mix to ice inland this evening & tonight...be careful! All rain tomorrow after icy start in some places. Dry Sunday the snow late Sunday night-Christmas morning."

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Here is the updated forecast for the Connecticut coast:

Today: A chance of snow between 10am and 1pm, then a chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tonight: A chance of rain before 10pm, then a chance of rain after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 36. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: Rain. High near 45. Northeast wind around 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain, mainly before 1am. Low around 34. West wind 10 to 13 mph becoming north in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 42. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Christmas Day: A 30 percent chance of snow before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 37.

Here is the updated forecast for inland areas of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties:

Today: A chance of snow between 10am and 1pm, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: Rain likely before 4am, then a chance of rain or freezing rain. Cloudy, with a low around 33. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Saturday: Rain, possibly mixed with freezing rain, becoming all rain after 7am. High near 44. Wind chill values between 30 and 40. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: Rain, mainly before 1am. Low around 33. North wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. North wind 3 to 6 mph.

Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Christmas Day: A 40 percent chance of snow before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Here is the updated forecast for Hartford and Tolland counties:

Today: A chance of snow between 10am and 2pm, then a chance of freezing rain after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 32. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of freezing rain and sleet before 11pm, then freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no sleet accumulation expected.

Saturday: Freezing rain likely before 8am, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday: A slight chance of rain after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Christmas Day: A chance of snow before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%. (The weather service is predicting 2 to 3 inches of snow.)

Image by Lanning Taliaferro/Patch