First Snowflakes Possible This Week, Freeze Warning Issued for Hamden

By Brian McCready

Wasn’t it in the mid-80s last week in parts of Connecticut? Now, parts of the state have a Freeze Warning in place and we’re talking about seeing the first snowflakes of the year possibly on Thursday.

A lot can change quickly with weather in New England and this latest forecast proves that. The National Weather Service has issued a Freeze Warning for Tolland County and northern sections of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for Hartford County because of the freezing temperatures expected tonight and into Wednesday.

No advisories have been issued for the coastal sections of Connecticut from Greenwich to New London but temps will be around the freezing mark or just slightly above freezing Tuesday night. It will be the coldest temps of the season for the state.

And, yes, weather forecasters predict that Connecticut may see its first widespread snowflakes of the year on Thursday. No one is predicting any accumulation but snowflakes could be visible in much of the state for a period of time Thursday before it turns to all rain.

In reality, some snowflakes did fall in Connecticut this weekend but it was limited to parts of Litchfield County.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons wrote on social media Tuesday morning that, “A chilly day ahead! Sun and clouds with high temperatures only in the 40s to around 50°. The wind will be gusting up to 30 mph. Expect dry weather again tomorrow. A little bit of snow rain mix changing to all rain for Thursday.”

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan wrote, “A few flakes of snow are possible on Thursday. Here's what we know! Who's excited???? Who's annoyed???”

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Here’s the updated forecast via the National Weather Service:

Tolland, Northern Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, New London counties:

Freeze warning in effect from 2 a.m. to 9 a.m. Wednesday with temps in the lower 30s. In Tolland county, temps could dip into the 20s.

On Thursday, some snowflakes will turn to all rain and some heavy rain is possible with up to three quarters of an inch of rain Thursday and into Thursday night.

Hartford County:

Freezing temperatures possible early Wednesday and again Thursday morning. Moderate to heavy rain is possible on Thursday into early Friday, the weather service states.

Southern Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties:

Tuesday night temps dip to around 35 degrees and we can expect up to a half inch of rain on Thursday with temps in the low 50s. Heavy rain is possible Thursday night with another half to three quarters of an inch of rain possible.

Once the rain clears out early Friday for the entire state of Connecticut it looks sunny and dry Friday, Saturday and Sunday with temps in the low 50s.

Photo credit: AccuWeather.com