A major nor’easter is hitting southern New England, potentially creating a host of problems due to heavy snow and gusty winds Sunday night and Monday morning. Connecticut residents have much of Sunday to complete preparations ahead of tonight’s severe storm. Here are the latest forecasts for this potential snowstorm.
READ MORE: Bomb twister hits Connecticut, bringing blizzard, snow, high winds
READ MORE: How much snow will it snow in Connecticut? Here’s a town-by-town breakdown
Read more: When does it start snowing in Connecticut? Here’s the blizzard schedule
What alerts are in place for Connecticut?
A blizzard warning is in effect for all of Connecticut, except Litchfield County, until 6 p.m. Monday. For much of the state, this is the first snowstorm warning in more than eight years and should not be taken lightly. According to the National Weather Service’s New York office, “Heavy snow conditions are expected, which will make travel hazardous and potentially life-threatening.”
A winter storm warning has been issued for Litchfield County, which could see heavy snow and near daylight conditions during this storm.
A blizzard warning now covers the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston. (critical weather)
Along the coast, a coastal flood warning is in effect for Fairfield and New Haven counties, as well as a coastal flood warning for the east side of the Connecticut coastline. Minor coastal flooding is possible in flood-prone areas Monday morning as the storm’s strong winds push water ashore, potentially causing coastal flooding of up to 2 feet.
When does the snow start?
A few snow showers hit parts of the state this morning, blanketing the ground in parts of western Connecticut. This is just a precursor to the front of this storm that will arrive late this afternoon into the evening.
The leading edge of the storm’s precipitation shield will reach Connecticut Sunday night. (weather clock)
Snowfall will begin between 3pm and 7pm and become heavier during the evening. Snow will accumulate at a moderate rate before midnight. Bigger bands of snow will arrive Monday night and early morning. The heaviest snowfall and strongest winds are expected between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, with blizzard conditions bringing visibility to near zero at times across much of the state.
Conditions will gradually improve Monday afternoon, but winds will still reach 40 to 50 mph. Not only is blowing snow difficult to measure, it can also add to the frustration of anyone trying to shovel their driveway.
How much snow will it snow in Connecticut?
The storm still has the potential to bring 10 to 20 inches of snow, with up to 2 feet of snow in some places, according to the latest data Sunday.
If deep bands of snow remain in parts of Connecticut for an extended period of time, some towns could see up to 2 feet of snow. (Dan Amarante)
Due to strong winds in the Northeast this year, snow accumulations of 3 feet or more are possible across the state.
Will there be a power outage?
Scattered power outages are possible and wind gusts could approach 60 mph at times Monday morning. The lack of leaves on trees will help limit widespread power outages, but heavy snow accumulations could weigh down tree branches, causing downed trees or some problems with power lines.
It is highly recommended to keep your devices fully charged during this storm, especially on Monday morning when the peak of winds moves across the state. Make a plan in case a power outage occurs and be prepared to remain without power until the storm ends Monday night.
This article was originally published on Track the Northeast as blizzard warnings expand across Connecticut. This is the latest forecast.
