Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Northern Connecticut; High Wind Warning Issued Statewide: UPDATE

UPDATE, 4:45 P.M.

Buckle up it appears we’re headed toward a wild night of weather where everything is on the table including rain, thunder and lightning, snow, and dangerous winds that are likely to produce power outages in Connecticut.

In its Saturday afternoon update, the National Weather Service issued a “High Wind Warning” for the entire state of Connecticut beginning around midnight and running through Sunday evening.

Winds will be 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 65 mph on the immediate Connecticut coastline, and between 20 to 30 mph in interior and northern sections of the state with occasional gusts up to 60 mph.

The worst of the winds will be late tonight into Sunday morning in southern Connecticut and Sunday morning into Sunday evening in Hartford and Tolland counties.

A “Freeze Watch” has also been issued for the immediate Connecticut coastline from Greenwich to New London beginning late Sunday into Monday morning. The weather service says temps will be low enough to kill sensitive vegetation if not protected and brought indoors.

The latest on the snow

All winter New London County was the big winner when it came to snowfall accumulation. But this latest storm looks to dump the most snow on Hartford and Tolland counties. A “Winter Weather Advisory” has been issued for Hartford and Tolland counties from 3 a.m. until 11 a.m. Sunday.

Snow will accumulate 1 to 4 inches with some isolated areas seeing up to six inches of snow, in northern Connecticut.

Rain will change to all snow between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. accompanied possibly by some thunder and the snow will end by noon, the weather service states.

In Hartford and Tolland counties you can expect heavy snow and near whiteout conditions for brief periods of time. Snow is expected to stick on the roadways too, the weather service states.

“This has the potential to be a high impact but short duration event...so do not be caught off guard,” the National Weather Service states concerning Hartford and Tolland counties.

For southern Connecticut, the wind and the cold is the biggest story, but you could still see up to an inch of snow possibly by mid morning Sunday on the immediate Connecticut coastline, and between 1-2 inches in inland sections of southern Connecticut.

And of course more snow is possible Sunday into Monday. Happy spring everyone!

Original post: In its updated forecast the National Weather Services says parts of Connecticut could actually see “plowable snow” later this weekend.

Right now, we’re still dealing with temps in the mid 50s and scattered rain showers but soon the story turns to potentially dangerous winds later this evening, a drastic drop in temperatures and the possibility of heavy snow showers accompanied by thunder moving in during the overnight hours.

“Wild weather on the way for Sunday morning. Don't be surprised to see lightning, briefly heavy snow, and damaging winds around dawn Sunday,” writes NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan.

Southern Connecticut including Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties is under a High Wind Warning from midnight to 2 p.m. Sunday. Winds will be 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph are likely. Power outages may be an issue too.

For Tolland County a High Wind Watch is in effect from late tonight through Sunday afternoon as winds will be 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 65 mph.

Hartford County is under a Wind Advisory, which is in effect from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for winds between 15 to 25 mph and gusts up to 50 mph.

Saturday night/ Sunday’s snow possibility and timing

Southern Connecticut:

Rain showers will turn to snow showers before dawn and continue until mid morning. The snow will be isolated and all areas could see up to a half inch to up to two inches of snow accumulation, the National Weather Service states.

The National Weather Service states that strong wind gusts will be “accompanied by snow showers and snow squalls. White out conditions may briefly occur in squalls.”

Hartford and Tolland county:

The National Weather Service says a period of snow is likely, which may start as rain and then change quickly to snow, which may be heavy for a time, and accompanied by a thunderstorm too. A few inches of snow is possible, the weather service states.

Hanrahan in his blog post, which you can read in its entirety here, writes, “ That said, I do think there will be a narrow band of 1″-3″ of snow – but there is a shot that a small area (geographically) picks up 6″ of snow. This storm is so compact there will be many who are shut out from the storm but some who will get absolutely walloped."

Sunday night/Monday snow possibility and timing

Southern Connecticut:

Snow once again is possible late Sunday and early Monday, which could drop up to an inch of snow here, possibly impacting Monday’s morning commute. The snow, if it falls, is expected to turn to plain rain by mid Monday morning. The temps Sunday night will be below freezing and slowly rise during the day on Monday.

Hartford and Tolland county:

The National Weather Service states that late Sunday night into Monday another low pressure is expected to track nearby and a “plowable snowfall is possible.” No other details were given concerning accumulation estimates here.

We’ll continue to update this information.

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