Stratford Blizzard: What's In Store for Sunday?

By Brian McCready

Of course we would go from largely no snow this winter season to a blizzard all at once.

And let’s be honest, no one saw this coming. Yes, a snowstorm had been forecast for this weekend, possibly, for several days now, but no one was forecasting a blizzard or a near blizzard.

As we wake up Sunday morning, the Blizzard/Winter Storm warnings end and we’re hopefully using the snow blower and not shoveling this stuff.

Depending on where you are in Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties you’re looking at about a foot of snow on the low end, and possibly 2 feet of snow.

Unlike last winter, when we got hit with a blizzard, another snowstorm was on its way two days later, we’re facing a much better situation.

Sunday will be dry, which is a good thing, and temps will be around the freezing mark and clouds will turn to sunny skies.

But after Sunday, we’ll see a slow warm-up as temps will be above freezing through Saturday, and most importantly no snow chances through Saturday.

We may even hit the mid-40s on Tuesday!

UPDATE, 4:45 p.m.

The National Weather Service has just issued a “Special Weather Statement” for all of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.

The Blizzard Warning remains in effect for southern Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties for between 1-2 feet of snow. The areas with 2 feet of snow will be west of Bridgeport, the National Weather Service writes.

Northern Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties continue to operate under a Winter Storm Warning for between 10-14 inches of snow.

Here is the latest Special Weather Statement issued by the National Weather Service late Saturday afternoon:

Heavy snow is moving into southern Connecticut now and snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are expected.

Some snowfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour are possible in isolated incidents.

The heaviest snow for southern Connecticut is expected between 5-7 p.m. with blizzard conditions continuing at the immediate coast, and near blizzard conditions a bit inland.

UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.

Here is an update from Mayor John Harkins and the Stratford emergency management team, as of 3 p.m. today:

• Latest weather forecast is for continuing snow until later this evening with a total projected snowfall of about 10-15 inches.
• To this point, only minor flooding has occurred at the usual low-lying locations that tend to flood. No serious damage obvious at this time.
• Department of Public Works staff members will continue working until all operations are complete. They will be relieved at intervals by other on-call staff for rest until operations are finished.
• 35 trucks with plows of various sizes operating on 21 snow routes throughout the Town of Stratford.
• Operations consist of keeping primary and secondary roads open during moderate snowfall with some heavy wind gusts of approximately 50 MPH.
• Emergency services (Police, Fire, EMS) have additional staff and resources in place and are able to respond to emergency calls as-needed. All firehouses also serve as warming stations for those seeking shelter from the storm and cold.
• Parking ban will remain in effect until midnight on Sunday, Jan. 24.
• In the case of an EMERGENCY, residents are asked to call 911.

Original post

The ever changing forecast is of course changing again.

Yes, a Blizzard Warning is still in effect until 7 a.m. Sunday but the projected snow totals are exploding.

In a late morning update, the National Weather Service says communities on the immediate coastline, including southern Fairfield, southern New Haven, southern Middlesex and southern New London counties, will all see a minimum of 12 inches of snow.

• See related story: Blizzard 2016: Snowfall Totals in Connecticut (So Far)

The jackpot goes to communities west of Bridgeport, which will now see 18-24 inches of snow, and for the rest of us, our consolation prize is 12-18 inches of snow.

Here are some other key notes from the NWS:

* HAZARD TYPES...WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...WITH HEAVY SNOW
AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS CAUSING CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND
DRIFTING SNOW AND NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 18 TO 24 INCHES WEST OF
BRIDGEPORT...AND 12 TO 18 INCHES EAST.

* WINDS...NORTH 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE MID 20S.

* TIMING...THROUGH TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TRAVEL DUE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL AND STRONG WINDS WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS LIKELY. SECONDARY AND TERTIARY ROADS MAY BECOME IMPASSABLE. STRONG WINDS MAY DOWN POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS.

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