Winter Storm Warning Now Issued for Guilford: UPDATE

UPDATE: The National Weather Service has just upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a Winter Storm Warning for all of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties.

The warning is now in effect from 4 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Sunday. A warning means there is a strong likelihood of six inches of snow accumulation.

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 4 TO 8 INCHES.

* WINDS...NORTH 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE 20S.

* TIMING...LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO STRONG WINDS.

Original post: After a week of writing about this possible developing major snowstorm, we’re almost here and it looks to be a significant winter storm, according to the latest information from the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service says the conditions for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties could be “near blizzard” like as strong gusty winds will make visibilities very low. Traveling Saturday afternoon and evening may be very difficult, the weather service says.

The snowfall projections are all over the place with a minimum of two inches, and a maximum of eight inches possible. But this appears to be a storm where the closer you live to the Shoreline, the more snow you’ll receive, likely in the six-inch range.

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A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.

According to the bulletin:

*HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 2 TO 8 INCHES.

* WINDS...NORTH 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 20S.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE HALF MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* TIMING...SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES AND SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF SNOW WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO STRONG WINDS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

Coastal Flood Watch for southern Fairfield and southern New Haven

A Coastal Flood Watch is also in effect for southern Fairfield and southern New Haven counties from Saturday evening through late Saturday night. Minor coastal flooding is possible and a warning may need to be issued for late Saturday evening.

Guilford’s Hyperlocal National Weather Service Forecast

Saturday: Snow, mainly after 9am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 32. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Snow, mainly before 4am. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 23. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday: A chance of snow, mainly before 7am.

Photo credit: Barbara Heins