MODERATE TO LARGE WINTER STORM EXPECTED FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SATURDAY AFTERNOON THRU SUNDAY MORNING…
WINTER STORM WATCHES NOW ISSUED FOR MOST OF THE STATE…
The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Watches for most of the state except for the southeast coast from Saturday afternoon until Sunday morning. A low pressure system is forecast to form near the New Jersey coast Saturday evening and intensify as it moves just south of New England Saturday night and Sunday morning. The following forecast is based on current information and may change somewhat as we get closer to the event:
Saturday Morning: Cloudy with light snow developing from West to East between 8:00 – 11:00 AM. Temperatures rising from the mid teens into the low 20’s.
Saturday Afternoon: Light snow for most of the afternoon becoming moderate at times by 5:00 PM. The light snow will stick quickly to most roads however the impact on afternoon travel is expected to be minor for most of the afternoon. Temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid 20’s by late afternoon with Northeast winds at 10 – 15 MPH.
Saturday Night: Snow becoming heavy at times between 8:00 – 10:00 PM. A rain / snow line is then expected to develop along the coast of Connecticut by 1:00 AM and begin moving slowly inland. As the rain / snow line moves slowly north towns north of the line can expect a period of heavy snow with snowfall rates up to 2” per hour for several hours before the snow changes to sleet and freezing rain. Travel is expected to become very hazardous after midnight with heavy snow blowing across roads and Northeast winds 15 – 25 MPH gusting to 35 MPH at times north of the changeover line.
Sunday Morning: Snow in Northern CT and sleet / freezing rain in Southern CT tapering off between 8:00 – 10:00 AM. Some light snow or flurries may persist during the rest day especially in the Northwest hills with little or no additional accumulation.
Total accumulations are currently forecast to range from 6” – 9” in Southern Connecticut up to 10 – 14” in Northern Connecticut. The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will issue another update on this storm event at 9:00 PM this evening.