Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued For CT

CONNECTICUT — If you're outside this afternoon and evening don't be fooled by the sunshine today as conditions may change rapidly. Chances are increasing that there may be strong to severe thunderstorms in Connecticut today.

The timeline of concern is between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The odds of a tornado occurring are very low but the NWS says it is possible.

Other concerns associated with the storms today include the chance of hail and strong winds.

A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for all of Connecticut. WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons says, "Hazy sunshine and very humid weather today! Extra hairspray! High temperatures in the 70s and 80s with a higher heat index & lower air quality. Also, please watch for some severe thunderstorms between 4 & 8 PM. Less humid weather tonight and tomorrow. Sunshine and high temperatures near 70 Tuesday and Wednesday!"

Here are the weather statements from the National Weather Service:

Southern Connecticut: Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of a cold front this afternoon and evening. A few of the stronger storms could produce large hail and damaging winds. Locally heavy rain will also be possible, resulting in mainly urban and poor drainage flooding."

Hartford, Tolland and Windham counties: A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible between 2 and 9 pm Monday, mainly northwest of the Boston to Providence corridor. The highest risk will be across interior Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.

The main threats with any severe thunderstorms would be localized damaging wind gusts and large hail. There also is a low probability for a tornado. Lastly, brief torrential rainfall may result in localized street flooding.

Litchfield County: Additional showers and thunderstorms are expected today ahead of a cold front passage. There is a Marginal to Slight Risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into early evening, with the main threats being damaging winds and hail of 1 inch or greater in diameter. The highest probability for severe storms will be from around the Capital District south and east.

A detailed look at today's weather in Southern CT:

Today
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

A detailed look at today's weather in Northern CT:

Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 8pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. West wind around 10 mph becoming northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.