Connecticut Weather: Updated Snow and Ice Accumulation Estimates

The good news about Wednesday's snow/mix/rain event is that it will be dry for the morning commute. The snow isn't expected to begin until late morning or early afternoon. Once the snow begins to fall it will change to a mix quickly along the Connecticut coast, while mixed precipitation will hold on longer in inland and northern sections of the state leading to icy conditions for the evening commute home on Wednesday.

As of right now, this doesn't appear to be a big snow event for anyone in Connecticut but the biggest concern is how much ice will accumulate, especially in areas away from the immediate coast.

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for both Hartford and Litchfield counties. A Hazardous Weather Outlook has been issued for Tolland County. For Hartford County 4 to 7 inches of snow is forecast along with a bit of ice too. The snow is expected to fall heavily here in the early afternoon before changing to a mix by evening.

For Litchfield County, 4 to 8 inches of snow is expected. For Tolland County, accumulating snow is expected and it should begin by late morning Wednesday and then transition to freezing rain in the late afternoon.

In Southern Connecticut, an inch or two of snow is expected before the changeover to freezing rain and sleet, but here it will be warm enough to turn the mix over to plain rain in the early afternoon. It's possible the rain could end as some snow here.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons said, "Some flurries may move through today with highs in the 30s. All eyes on tomorrow with snow developing 9AM-1PM & changing to ice & rain from south to north. School issues likely. Some icy patches early Thursday after clearing with falling temps."

FOX 61 Weather‏ added, "No issues for the morning commute Wednesday. Snow moves in just after drive time. Then we expect a change to ice then rain from south to north in the afternoon. Some in northern CT, valleys may stay as ice with temps near/below freezing.

And in an unrelated weather issue, apparently some Connecticut residents received a notification via their cell phone that there was a Tsunami warning issued. That was an error. There is no Tsunami. It was just a test.

See also: Ex-Dentist To Serve Jail Time For Illegally Prescribing Drugs

Man Drove Drunk, Hit Pedestrian And Then Business: PD

Goat Theft Thwarted: Report

Updated snow/mix/rain forecast for the Connecticut coast:

Today: A slight chance of snow showers between 9am and noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 37. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. West wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 26. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northeast after midnight.

Wednesday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before noon, then rain, snow, and sleet between noon and 1pm, then rain after 1pm. High near 38. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. East wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain or freezing rain before midnight, then a slight chance of snow between midnight and 3am. Low around 26. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Updated snow/mix/rain forecast for inland sections of Southern Connecticut:

Today: A slight chance of snow showers between 9am and noon. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 19. Light and variable wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight.

Wednesday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1pm, then rain, snow, and sleet between 1pm and 2pm, then rain after 2pm. High near 36. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. East wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Snow and freezing rain likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Updated snow/mix forecast for Hartford County:

Today: A chance of light snow, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday: Snow before 1pm, then snow and sleet between 1pm and 5pm, then freezing rain and sleet after 5pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 1pm, then patchy fog after 4pm. Patchy dense freezing fog between 1pm and 4pm. High near 34. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain, snow, and freezing rain before 11pm, then a chance of snow between 11pm and 2am. Patchy fog before 10pm. Low around 23. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Updated snow/mix forecast for Tolland County:

Today: A chance of light snow, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Light and variable wind.

Wednesday: Snow before 2pm, then snow and sleet between 2pm and 5pm, then freezing rain after 5pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy fog before 1pm, then patchy fog after 4pm. Patchy dense freezing fog between 1pm and 4pm. High near 33. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 1am, then a slight chance of snow between 1am and 2am. Patchy fog before 11pm. Low around 21. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow and sleet accumulation of around an inch possible.

Updated snow/mix forecast for Litchfield County:

Today: A chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Wednesday: Snow before 4pm, then snow and sleet between 4pm and 5pm, then snow and sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain after 5pm. High near 32. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no ice accumulation expected. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Wednesday Night: Rain, snow and sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 10pm, then a chance of snow between 10pm and 1am. Low around 18. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Image via Shutterstock