WEATHER UPDATE: Winter Storm Warning Issued for Mansfield and Storrs

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning that is in effect from 3 p.m. this afternoon until 4 p.m. Sunday, and during that period of time near blizzard conditions are forecast for late tonight and early Sunday.

The warning is for snow of course, but the biggest concern are winds that could gust to up to 55 m.p.h. Snow is expected to accumulate between 4-8 inches before the storm ends by midday Sunday.

A Wind Chill Warning is also in effect from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning as windchills readings could reach 30 below zero.

Light snow is forecast to begin this afternoon with the heaviest occurring late tonight through Sunday morning. There may be a brief lull in the snow this evening, the National Weather Service predicts.

The winds will be at its strongest during the overnight hours and on Sunday with sustained winds of 15-25 m.p.h.

There will be considerable blowing and drifting snow with whiteout conditions at time, the National Weather Service predicts. Travel could be dangerous after midnight, the weather service says.

Valentine’s Day dinner plans

NBC Connecticut Darren Sweeney writes on Facebook that snow will develop between noon and 2 p.m. But Sweeney writes that the snow will remain fairly light through this evening with just 2 inches of accumulation by midnight. And he estimates an inch or less of accumulation by dinner time.

So if you have dinner plans, be careful when driving, but it doesn’t look like you need to cancel your plans.

“Toward morning, snow could become moderate to heavy at times, Sweeney writes. “The bottom line: we won’t see major snow accumulations from this storm, but the wind and light fluffy snow combined will create the biggest issues through Sunday afternoon.”

Here is the National Weather Service’s hyperlocal forecast for Mansfield and Storrs.

Today, Snow, mainly after noon. High near 26. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tonight Snow. Low around 14. Light and variable wind becoming north 10 to 15 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday Snow likely with areas of blowing snow before noon, then a slight chance of snow between noon and 1pm, then areas of blowing snow after 1pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a temperature falling to around 4 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -17. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday Night Areas of blowing snow before 3am. Mostly clear, with a low around -7. Wind chill values as low as -30. Blustery, with a northwest wind 16 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Image from Accuweather.com