Snow Accumulation Estimates Significantly Increase For Nor'easter Storm In CT

Saturday Update on snow accumulation estimates:

Blizzard Warning Issued In CT As Snow Accumulation Estimates Skyrocket

Significant snowfall and high winds are now in the forecast for an upcoming weekend storm, according to meteorologists.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for southern Connecticut. The watch is in effect from Sunday morning through Monday afternoon.

Snow accumulation estimates rise in southern Connecticut

Heavy snow, with total accumulations of between six and 10 inches are possible, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts could reach as high as 40 miles per hour.

“Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday morning and evening commutes. The combination of gusty winds and heavy wet snow could bring down tree branches,” the National Weather Service said.

No weather statements have yet been issued for the northern parts of the state.

AccuWeather as of Friday is predicting the southeastern portions of the state could get the most snow from the Sunday to Monday storm system, or three to six inches, while the rest of the state would be in the one to three inch range.

“As the storm rapidly intensifies along the coast, it will become a nor'easter, and parts of the corridor could experience high winds and blowing snow, with the effects peaking Sunday night and lingering into the Monday morning commute,” AccuWeather reported.

The Weather Channel also is predicting an East Coast storm this weekend.

“An East Coast storm is expected to develop this weekend, bringing impacts such as snow, rain, wind and coastal flooding from Sunday into Monday from New England to the mid-Atlantic states,” the Weather Channel said.

As of Friday, it was predicting Connecticut would be in an area which could get between three and five inches of snow, with even higher amounts in eastern parts of the state, which were in the five to eight inch range.

“As this forecast is refined and the exact track and strength of this system are figured out, these totals will shift,” the Weather Channel reported.

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WTNH is reporting the "potentially significant” storm could impact commutes and school schedules on Monday. WTNH says it is too early to give specific snowfall totals, but it noted that as of Friday, the European model was showing 4 or 5 inches of snowfall across the state.

In the short term, a winter weather advisory remains in effect for northern Connecticut today through tomorrow morning, with ongoing mixed precipitation causing slippery conditions.

Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service, as of 2 p.m. Friday:

This Afternoon: Rain. High near 38. East wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Rain before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of snow. Low around 30. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 1 a.m, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday: Snow likely, mainly after 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 37. East wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Sunday Night: Snow. Areas of blowing snow. Low around 28. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Monday: Snow, mainly before 1 p.m. Areas of blowing snow before 1 p.m. High near 36. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service, as of 2 p.m. Friday:

This Afternoon: Snow before 3 p.m., then rain between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then freezing rain and sleet after 4 p.m. High near 36. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: Freezing rain and sleet, possibly mixed with snow, becoming all snow after 9 p.m., then gradually ending. Low around 27. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday: A slight chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Light east wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday: A chance of snow, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Sunday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Monday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 34. North wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.