Winter Storm Warning Issued for West Haven

By Brian McCready

The National Weather Service has replaced the Winter Storm Watch it issued last night and upgraded it Wednesday morning to a Winter Storm Warning for the entire state of Connecticut.

Despite temps that will approach 60 degrees in spots today, the thermometer will plunge quickly this evening setting the stage for a heavy but fast-moving snowstorm.

The entire state is expected to see a minimum of 6 inches of snow and up to a foot is possible in some parts. Some computer models show up to 18 inches in spots, according to some local meteorologists, but mostly everyone is predicting a ceiling of 12 inches.

In its Wednesday morning update, the National Weather Service, says the Winter Storm Warning is in effect from midnight to 6 p.m. Thursday for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex, and New London counties.

Snow in those areas is expected to accumulate 6 to 10 inches. Travel will likely be hazardous during the snowstorm, the weather service states. Winds will also be gusting up to 30-35 mph. Temps will be around 30 degrees.

In Hartford and Tolland counties, the Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday. A total of 8-12 inches of snow is expected with the heaviest snow beginning early Thursday and lasting until the evening hours. Blowing and drifting snow is possible, the weather service states.

When Will the Snow Be at Its Worst?

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan writes at NBC that the worst of the storm is between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday and snow could fall between 1 and 2 inches per hour.

Hanrahan said some media outlets are forecasting up to 18 inches as a possibility but he said that seems unlikely because the storm is moving so fast and the heavy snow bands will be confined to just 4-6 hours.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Kevin Arnone says the snowflakes begin in the western part of the state between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. and it will be snowing everywhere between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

He predicts the worst of the storm is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday. The snow starts to end from west to east between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday, Arnone says.

Airport delays are likely and mass school closings are also expected, Arnone said.

We could also see some light snow Friday night and into Saturday morning.

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Photo credit: Tim Jensen