Connecticut Weather: Below Zero Wind Chills, Weekend Snow Update

As we all know by living in Connecticut, weather can change abruptly and unpredictably. But one thing is certain: we won't come close to 30 degrees until sometimes next year. In fact, the entire state will see wind chills below zero tonight and early Thursday.

There is absolutely no warmup in the forecast for the next 10 days. When the ball drops on New Year's Eve, temps will be around zero degrees in Connecticut.

There's still a question as to what will happen with a potential snowstorm on Saturday. The National Weather Service caused quite the stir Tuesday night when it said Connecticut could be looking at a heavy snowstorm this weekend.

A day later, and optimism for a potentially major snowstorm has diminished somewhat. NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan‏ said Wednesday it "doesn't look like much right now." The National Weather Service has dropped the odds for snow to around 30-40 percent for Saturday. For Hartford and Tolland counties, the weather service predicted the snowstorm will remain offshore.

If the snowstorm fizzles out this weekend, the next chance for wintry weather is next Thursday into Friday, according to Hanrahan.

At present, the National Weather Service said this for all of southern Connecticut: "Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday...Bitter cold temperatures will average 15 to 20 degrees below normal. Sub zero wind chills likely Saturday Night through Tuesday morning."

For Hartford and Tolland counties, the weather service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory until noon Thursday, warning that "Very cold wind chills expected. The cold wind chills will cause frostbite in as little as 30 minutes to exposed skin. Expect wind chills to range from 0 to 20 below zero."

"Wind chills may drop to as low as 15 to 20 below zero again Saturday night into Sunday as well as Sunday night into Monday. Additional Wind Chill Advisories may be needed for those time periods. The prolonged bitter cold brings the chance for isolated freeze up ice jams within interior southern New England during this weekend and next week. Freeze up ice jams can produce flooding upriver of the ice jam location," the National Weather Service says for Hartford and Tolland counties.

image via Accuweather.com

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Here is the updated weather forecast for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 21. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 9. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph.

Friday: Cloudy, with a high near 21. Wind chill values between zero and 10. West wind around 6 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 19.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 20.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 8.

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Here is the updated weather forecast for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -8. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 13. Wind chill values as low as -9. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Thursday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 0. Wind chill values as low as -8. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -6. Northwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Friday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday: A chance of snow, mainly after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 14.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 1.

New Year's Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 15.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 3.