CT Weather: Snow Accumulation Estimates Released For Nor'easter

CONNECTICUT — The odds of Connecticut seeing a blizzard this weekend have decreased significantly, as a powerful nor'easter is now forecast to move further east than originally thought.

But that doesn't mean we won't see snow. The National Weather Service released its first snow accumulation map for the late Friday/Saturday storm, and it's still predicting impressive snow totals. For areas west of New Haven you're expected to see 6-8 inches of snow and some areas of far western Litchfield County may see 4-6 inches of snow.

For areas east of New Haven, a general 8-12 inches of snow is forecast currently. However, areas just over the Connecticut border into Rhode Island are forecast to see 12-18 inches of snow.

Clearly, the higher snow totals are forecast for areas in the eastern part of the state. The weather service has issued winter storm watches for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, "where we have the highest confidence of heavy snowfall very late Friday into Saturday."

Fox 61 TV meteorologist Ryan Breton shared his first snow accumulation map and is predicting about 2-5 inches for most of Fairfield and Litchfield counties, a general 5-10 inches of snow in the central portion of the state and 10-20 inches in eastern Connecticut. (Read more details at Fox 61)

In a statement specifically for southern Connecticut, the weather service said, "There is potential for a low pressure storm system to bring heavy snowfall and high winds, particularly to eastern portions of the area Friday night into Saturday night. Minor to locally moderate coastal impacts are also possible for eastern portions of Long Island and vulnerable north facing coastal communities along Long Island Sound and the Great South Bay for the Saturday into Sunday high tides. Considerable uncertainty remains with the track of this storm and therefore its impacts, which should be refined over the next 24 to 36 hours."

For northern Connecticut, the weather service said, "A winter storm is expected on Saturday. Heavy snow, strong winds, coastal flooding and dangerous seas are possible. Storm track and intensity will determine the exact impacts."

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Here are the updated forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 9. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 24. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.

Friday Night: Snow, mainly after 1am. Low around 18. Light north wind increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Temperature falling to around 18 by 5pm. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Blustery.

Here are the updated forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around -1. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 25. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 18. South wind around 7 mph.

Friday: A slight chance of snow after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 33. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 17. Light north wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 23. North wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Snow likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Northwest wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.