2014

STATUS OF THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER – MONITORING

Winter Storm Warnings remain in effect for the entire state until Friday morning.  A Coastal Flood Watch (Minor Flooding Expected) is in effect from 10:00 PM until 2:00 AM Friday morning for Coastal Fairfield and New Haven Counties.

At 1:45 PM radar showed bands of light snow falling across the state with temperatures ranging from the mid teens in Northern CT up to low 20’s along the coast.  According to DOT Camera’s secondary roads are currently slush or snow coated in many areas.  Most highways are still fairly snow free in the travel lanes.  Northeast Winds are currently gusting to 20 MPH inland and up to 30 MPH along the coast with wind chills near 0 F in Northern CT up to +10 F at the coast.

This Afternoon: Bands of light snow becoming steadier by 4:00 PM with around an inch of accumulation during the afternoon.  Northeast winds gradually increasing and gusting to 25 – 35 MPH by late this afternoon.  The impact on the afternoon rush hour is expected to range from minor in the valleys and highways to pockets of moderate impact in the rural areas and in the higher elevations.  Temperatures are forecast to fall into the low teens by late afternoon with wind chills ranging from -10 F to +10 F.

Tonight: Northeast winds increasing to 30 – 35 MPH with snow becoming moderate to heavy at times.  The heaviest snow and wind (with near blizzard conditions expected along the coast) is currently expected between 11:00 PM and 5:00 AM.  During this time snowfall rates are forecast to be approximately 1” per hour with low visibilities, blowing and drifting of snow and a moderate to major impact on overnight travel.  Temperatures will also be bitter cold overnight with lows between +5 and +10 F and wind chills ranging from -5 to -15 F.  Total overnight snowfall of 5 – 7” is expected.  Minor coastal flooding is expected around the time of high tide at midnight in Western Long Island Sound with tide departures around 2 feet above the normal high tide.

Friday Morning: Snow tapering off to flurries from West to East between 7:00 – 10:00 AM and ending completely by early afternoon.  The impact on the morning rush hour is expected to be to moderate to borderline major with several inches of snow cover on most roads, light snow falling early and considerable blowing and drifting of the dry snow across roads.  Highs on Friday are only expected to reach the low teens with wind chills ranging from -10 to 0 F during the day.  Blowing snow is expected thru the Afternoon with a minor impact on the afternoon rush hour expected.

Total snowfall for the storm is forecast to range from 7 – 10” statewide with the lowest amounts in Southwestern CT and the highest amounts along the Southeast coast and in far Eastern CT.

Friday Night: Very cold conditions are expected with lows ranging from -10 to -15 F in Northern CT up to +0 F along the coast.  Lighter winds are expected to push wind chills down to –10 to -20 F at times.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security will continue to monitor the latest weather conditions and will issue another update at 6:00 PM this evening.