Nor'easter Heading Greenwich's Way

By Jaimie Cura (Patch Staff)

As is always the case with weather, there’s some good news and some less-than-good news.

Meteorologist Gil Simmons of WTNH News 8 is predicting the storm will move out of the state faster than he originally thought — between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. Thursday.

The estimated start time of the storm is between 7 and 9 a.m. Wednesday, he said. A mix of rain and snow at the start will switch to all snow by late Wednesday morning.

By noon Wednesday, the snow will be collecting across the state, Simmons said.

The state Department of Transportation will pre-treat roads after midnight Tuesday and all 632 plow trucks are ready for the storm, the Hartford Courant reported.

The not-so-good news (for non-snow lovers and those traveling), is that most areas of the state will still see five to eight inches. The projected accumulation hasn’t changed since Simmons’ initial forecast but the good news is that he said we’ll likely see snow totals toward the lower spectrum of the range.

But It’s Been So Warm!

True, Simmons said.

“The scenario with this storm will have a northerly wind over Connecticut as the rain and mix starts first thing on Wednesday morning,” he said in this video.

The wind is what makes this storm a nor’easter. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a nor’easter gets its name because “the winds over coastal areas blow from a northeasterly direction.”

“During winter, the polar jet stream transports cold Arctic air southward across the plains of Canada and the U.S., and eastward toward the Atlantic Ocean, as warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic tries to move northward,” the NOAA wrote. “The warm waters of the Gulf Stream help keep the coastal waters relatively mild during the winter, which in turn helps warm the cold winter air over the water. This difference in temperature between the warm air over the water and cold Arctic air over the land is the area where nor’easters are born.”

“Use Caution”

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is asking people to take the snow into consideration when making travel plans.

“Although this does not appear to be a major storm, it does have the potential to produce moderate snowfall and create hazardous driving conditions during the busiest travel day of the year,” he said in a press release. “I am asking everyone who must travel to use caution to ensure that you get to your destination safely. If it’s possible for you to leave on Tuesday instead of Wednesday, I would urge you to do so.”

On Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day’s weather will feature a mix of sun and clouds, with temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees, Simmons said.

News Around Connecticut

• Woman’s Dying Wish: A Wonderful Home for Her Cat
• When All Seems Lost
• Sandy Hook Promise Speaks Out After Report Details Released

Photo by Jack Zalium, via flickr creative commons