This morning, residents across Connecticut are waking up to chilly temperatures and the first flakes of snow, which began falling around 5 a.m. As the snow moves eastward, visibility may be affected and moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in several locations, prompting the designation of a First Alert Weather Day.
Over the course of the day, forecasters anticipate total snowfall accumulation between 1 to 3 inches, which is poorly timed with the morning commute. Thankfully, the snowfall should taper off by noon. Despite limited sunshine later in the day, temperatures are projected to rise to between 35 and 40 degrees, meaning that any accumulated snow will likely turn to slush on roadways. There could be isolated rain and snow showers as a front pushes through the area later this evening.
Looking ahead to the rest of the week, conditions are expected to improve. Tomorrow promises to be milder and brighter with highs near 40 degrees, while Friday will conclude the week on a sunny note with temperatures ranging between 40 and 45 degrees.
As we approach the weekend, Saturday is forecasted to be the warmest day, with temperatures potentially peaking between 45 and 50 degrees inland and in the mid-40s along the shoreline. If Bradley International Airport reaches 50 degrees, it will mark the first occurrence of such warmth since December 19th. On Sunday, however, a cold front will move through without significant precipitation, leading to cooler but seasonable temperatures in the lower 40s.
Next week, a shift in weather patterns will introduce a dose of unseasonably cold air. Monday could see temperatures struggling to surpass the 20s in various areas, and there is potential for additional snow from Monday into Tuesday, though specifics remain uncertain.
This wintry weather has elicited memories of previous significant storms in Connecticut, including Blizzard Calvin and Winter Storm Benjamin, which brought substantial snowfall and impacted travel across the state. While today’s weather is likened to these prior events in terms of causing inconveniences, the amounts expected are not on the same scale, making this more of a nuisance than a severe winter event.
Stay tuned for further updates from the First Alert Weather Team as they monitor the situation throughout the week.