Connecticut Weather: Growing Concerns Over Ice Storm Friday

For those of you planning to travel during the Christmas holiday period, there are two areas of significant concern. It appears a period of icing is expected Friday afternoon and evening, possibly lasting into Saturday morning, especially in interior sections of Connecticut. And there remains a chance for some snow late Christmas Eve and early on Christmas Day.

Currently, local meteorologists are unsure whether we'll see rain or snow on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. The more immediate concern is the potential ice storm Friday afternoon/evening.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons said, "for Thursday a colder feel today with dry weather & some sun. Please watch the Friday afternoon-night forecast closely. I am getting concerned for ice & freezing rain. Slippery conditions could linger a bit in to Saturday early on. Rain showers Saturday & drying out Sunday. Some snow possible Christmas Day!"

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan said on Wednesday, "A growing signal for ice late Friday and Saturday. There could be a little light snow Friday morning/midday (not a big deal) but a growing signal for prolonged icing in the interior Friday evening through Saturday."

As for Christmas, Hanrahan said in a blog post for NBC Connecticut that computer models are all over the place. "Some solutions are east and offshore while others are overhead (resulting in rain). There is certainly the possibility for accumulating snow but it's too soon to say anything with much certainty."

Fox 61 Meteorologist Matt Scott said, "After Friday/Saturday's mess, another storm for Christmas Eve? This one has a better chance for snow, but still not great. We'll watch the next few days."

"More concerned about slippery roads Friday night into Saturday AM with areas of freezing rain (rain falling from the sky, freezing on the ground). This might continue into into Saturday morning before temps slowly rise and we change to a cold rain," Fox 61 Weather said.

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

Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values between 15 and 25. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday: A chance of snow between 10am and 1pm, then a chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: Rain, mainly after midnight. Temperature rising to around 39 by 11pm. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday: Rain. Patchy fog after noon. High near 47. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: Rain likely before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and midnight. Patchy fog before 9pm. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Sunday Night: A chance of snow before 9pm, then a chance of rain, snow, and sleet between 9pm and midnight, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet likely after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Christmas Day: A 50 percent chance of snow showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

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

Today: Sunny, with a high near 37. North wind 3 to 5 mph.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 21. Light north wind.

Friday: A chance of snow before 1pm, then a chance of freezing rain between 1pm and 3pm, then snow likely after 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night: Snow and sleet likely before 8pm, then freezing rain and sleet likely between 8pm and 9pm, then freezing rain likely after 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: Freezing rain likely before 11am, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Christmas Day: Snow likely, mainly before 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 34. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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