Weather Update
The latest computer model runs of the NAM and GFS are now indicating a little more snow for Connecticut. A low pressure system currently located in the Ohio Valley is forecast to re-form along the North Carolina coast tonight and then rapidly intensify as the storm moves slowly NE towards Nantucket on Wednesday. This storm is expected to grow into a major winter storm and is forecast to impact Connecticut on Wednesday with heavy snow and strong winds. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Storm Warnings for all of the State from Wednesday morning through Wednesday night.
The following forecast is a blend of the GFS and NAM models:
Tonight…Becoming cloudy with lows in the low to mid 20’s with NE winds increasing to 10 – 20 MPH by daybreak.
Wednesday Morning… Snow developing at the coast around 3:00 AM and slowly spreading inland during the pre-dawn hours. Snow is expected to reach the Hartford area by 5:00 AM and the MA border by 7:00 AM. The snow is expected to become heavy at times a few hours after starting in each area. The impact on the morning rush hour is expected to be minor to moderate with steady snow falling and 1 – 3 inches of snow on roads, especially in Southern CT. Temperatures are forecast to rise into the upper 20’s with NE winds increasing to 15 – 25 MPH.
Wednesday Midday…Snow becoming heavy at times across most of the state by 10:00 AM. Snowfall rates of 1 – 2 inches per hour can be expected. Some mixing to sleet or rain may occur along the I-95 Corridor in Southeastern CT for a few hours around noontime. Travel is expected to become very hazardous, first along the coast and then inland by noontime with blowing snow and NE winds increasing to 20 – 30 MPH.
Wednesday Afternoon Rush Hour… Moderate to Heavy Snow across most of the state with blowing and drifting and approximately 6 – 8 inches of snow on roads at the coast and 4 – 6 inches of snow on roads in the Hartford area during the rush hour. The impact on the afternoon rush hour is expected to be major with very poor visibilities and very slick travel. High temperatures are forecast to range from around 30 F in the NW Hills to the mid 30’s along the Southeast Coast.
Wednesday Night… Snow slowly ending from West to East between 11:00 PM and 2:00 AM. Strong North winds at 20 – 30 MPH will continue to blow the snow around overnight.
Total snowfall from this storm is now forecast to range from 10 – 12” inches in most of the State with the higher amounts along the coast and in Eastern CT. Forecast confidence remains fairly good, however the computer models are bouncing around from 10” inches to 18” inches and back to 10” inches from run to run so the forecast amounts are likely to change somewhat as we get closer to the storm start time.
