New Accumulation Estimates Released For Friday Snow, Ice Storm In CT

CONNECTICUT — The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Hartford, Tolland, Windham and Litchfield counties, and a winter weather advisory for all of southern Connecticut.

Snow moves into the state around midnight and everyone will see an initial burst of moderate to heavy snow in the early morning hours and then the transition to ice begins across the state, the weather service said.

Snow changes to ice the quickest along the immediate coast, which will help limit snow totals there and plain rain is forecast to develop here by mid-morning. Interior sections of southern Connecticut are forecast to receive more snow and ice as temperatures will remain around the freezing mark for most of Friday.

Northern areas of the state will see snow up until around 7 a.m. and then ice mixes in and then the precipitation returns to snow in the early afternoon hours.

The Friday morning commute looks like a real mess due to the snow and more importantly sleet which is forecast to be falling at this time.

Here are the forecast updates via the National Weather Service based on where you are in CT:

I-95 corridor towns: A winter weather advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday, until 3 p.m. Friday. "Mixed precipitation expected. Total combined snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch."

Hour-by-hour forecast:

• 1 a.m.: 36 percent chance of precipitation; 31 degrees
• 4 a.m.: 85 percent chance of precipitation; 30 degrees
• 7 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 30 degrees
• 10 a.m.: 84 percent chance of precipitation; 34 degrees
• 1 p.m.: 44 percent chance of precipitation; 36 degrees
• 4 p.m.: 12 percent chance of precipitation; 37 degrees

From 1 a.m. until 5 a.m. 2.2 inches of snow is expected to accumulate and then ice mixes in from 4-9 a.m. From 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. it's plain rain.

Inland sections of southern Connecticut: A winter weather advisory is in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday until 3 p.m. Friday. "Mixed precipitation expected. Total combined snow and sleet accumulations of 3 to 5 inches. Ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch."

Hour-by-hour forecast:

• 1 a.m.: 32 percent chance of precipitation; 29 degrees
• 4 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 25 degrees
• 7 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 26 degrees
• 10 a.m.: 85 percent chance of precipitation; 30 degrees
• 1 p.m.: 63 percent chance of precipitation; 30 degrees
• 4 p.m.: 21 percent chance of precipitation; 33 degrees

From 2 a.m. until 7 a.m. 3.7 inches of snow is expected to accumulate and then ice mixes in from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. From 1-4 p.m. another inch of snow is forecast.

Hartford/Tolland/Windham County: A winter storm warning is in effect until Friday night. "Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches and ice accumulations of a light glaze possible."

"Travel will be very difficult, especially for the Friday morning commute," the weather service said.

"Snow will overspread the region between 1 and 4 am Friday morning," the weather service said "The snow will quickly become heavy falling at the rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times through daybreak Friday. The snow will change to sleet from south to north Friday morning and some light freezing rain is possible across northern Connecticut and northwest Rhode Island."

Hour-by-hour forecast:

• 1 a.m.: 24 percent chance of precipitation; 26 degrees
• 4 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 23 degrees
• 7 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 24 degrees
• 10 a.m.: 100 percent chance of precipitation; 28 degrees
• 1 p.m.: 86 percent chance of precipitation; 29 degrees
• 4 p.m.: 45 percent chance of precipitation; 29 degrees

From 2 a.m. until 8 a.m. 3 inches of snow is expected to accumulate and then ice mixes in from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. From 1-5 p.m. another half inch of snow is forecast.

Litchfield County: A winter storm warning is in effect until 7 p.m. Friday: "Heavy mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 4 to 8 inches and ice accumulations a light glaze to a tenth of an inch."

"Maximum snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are expected, mainly very late tonight into early Friday morning. Snow will change to sleet early Friday morning, with a brief period of freezing rain possible late Friday morning. Mixed precipitation may change back to snow Friday afternoon before tapering to snow showers and flurries in the early evening.