Snow Squalls End In Fairfield County, Bitter Cold Moves In

A Snow Squall Warning issued for Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties has expired Wednesday evening. Just as forecasters promised, heavy, blinding snow fell for a brief period of time snarling traffic during the evening commute home from work.

Several accidents were reported across the area as motorists had difficulty seeing one another at times while the wind swept snow fell. While the heavy snow has moved on, this sets the stage for a dramatic temperature drop in the region.

Temps will drop to around zero degrees tonight and the wind chill factor will make it feel like 10 degrees below zero. On Thursday, temps will only reach 15 degrees but it will feel like 15 below at times. Thursday night will also be freezing with temps down into the single digits.

No additional snow chances are in our forecast.

A Snow Squall Warning is now in effect until 5:15 p.m. for Fairfield County, the National Weather Service says. Originally, it was set to expire at 4 p.m. but it has been extended.

"At 419 PM EST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line extending from 6 miles north of Woodbury Center to Bethel to Stamford, moving east at 40 mph."

HAZARD...Whiteout conditions. Zero visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow. Wind gusts to 50 mph. Up to a quick inch of snowfall, with locally up to 2 inches across northern New Haven and northern Fairfield counties.

IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel.

This snow squall will be near...
Newtown around 425 PM EST.
Middlebury around 430 PM EST.
Waterbury and Trumbull around 435 PM EST.
Shelton and Southbury around 440 PM EST.
Seymour and Woodbridge around 445 PM EST.
Naugatuck and Orange around 450 PM EST.
Middletown and Hamden around 455 PM EST.
New Haven around 500 PM EST.
Wallingford and North Haven around 505 PM EST.
Guilford and East Hampton around 510 PM EST.
Killingworth around 515 PM EST.

"Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location. If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra time. Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead to accidents.

"Reduce your speed and turn on headlights! During snow squalls, the visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions. Wet roadways will quickly freeze. Black ice will cause roads, bridges and overpasses to become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be prepared for sudden loss of traction," the NWS cautions.