Westport Blizzard: What's In Store for Sunday

UPDATE: Of course we went 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 snowblower 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 it’s way two days later, we’re facing a much better situation.

Sunday will 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, 5 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 two feet areas 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 9 A.M: Snow has begun to fall in Connecticut and traveling in the afternoon and evening will be very difficult.

Well that escalated quickly last night. What a strange week. Since last Sunday there has been talk of a major Nor’Easter that may impact Connecticut late Friday and into Saturday.

As you know the forecast has changed more than a dozen times between then and now.

Even in the past 48 hours the forecasts have changed dramatically. At one time it appeared we may get just a few inches of snow but then it was upgraded Friday afternoon to six inches and just before midnight the storm was upgraded to what it is now, a Blizzard Warning, which is now in effect as we face more than a foot of snow possibly.

The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 7 a.m. Sunday for all communities along the Connecticut coastline or I-95 corridor including southern Fairfield, southern New Haven, southern Middlesex, and southern New London counties.

Heavy snow is forecast and “potentially damaging winds,” blowing and drifting snow with near zero visibilities. expected Saturday and Saturday evening.

Snow will accumulate anywhere between 8-12 inches and higher amounts are possible.

Winds will be sustained at 20 to 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph and the temps will be in the mid to upper 20s.

Conditions deteriorate as the day moves along.

Travel may be extremely dangerous because of the likelihood of “whiteout conditions” and power outages may be a concern. The National Weather Service urges against traveling unless you have to.

WTNH News 8’s Meteorologist Gil Simmons wrote, “Snow will be picking up steadily through the morning. Heavy snow midday through the afternoon with strong winds and low visibility. I would not advise traveling for the afternoon it will be very difficult to see.”

Snow flurries have now entered the state as of 7 a.m. and Simmons said the snow will really pick up by 11 a.m. and traveling after that time will be difficult.

The National Weather Service has issued a “Blizzard Warning” for the Connecticut coastline, which includes southern portions of Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.

A Winter Storm Warning was issued at 4 p.m. Friday but was upgraded late Friday as the storm track shifted and we’re expected to receive significantly more snow now.

Here are the important details:

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM SATURDAY TO 7 AM EST

SUNDAY....

* HAZARD TYPES...HEAVY SNOW ALONG WITH STRONG AND POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WINDS. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WITH NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES IS EXPECTED SATURDAY AND SATURDAY EVENING.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 10 TO 15 INCHES. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE.

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

* VISIBILITIES...NEAR ZERO AT TIMES.

* TEMPERATURES...20S.

* TIMING...LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT.

* 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.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.