Connecticut Could See First Snowfall as Storm Tracks Up Coast

This week, Connecticut‘s staring down a classic early-season winter storm. From Tuesday into Tuesday night, expect a messy mix of rain and snow, with sharp differences from the shoreline to the northern hills.

From Stamford to Hartford, and up through Torrington and Putnam, conditions will shift fast. Residents should get ready for tricky travel at times, then a quick return to calmer weather by midweek.

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Storm Timing and Overall Setup

The system rolls in Tuesday morning, spreading precipitation across most of the state by the early commute. It’s not a blockbuster blizzard, but it’s the kind of storm that can catch drivers off guard in places like Waterbury, Bristol, and Manchester as roads flip from wet to slushy or snow-covered.

Meteorologists say the storm’s track and how much cold air hangs on over inland areas will decide if some towns get mostly wet roads or enough snow to plow.

Tuesday Morning: Wet Start for the South, Snow North

By daybreak Tuesday, precipitation starts moving across Connecticut from southwest to northeast.

Key expectations for Tuesday morning:

Southern counties and shoreline towns like Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London will likely see a rain–snow mix, but it’ll lean more toward rain as temps sit in the low 40s.

Hartford, Windham, and Tolland counties are set up for mostly snow at the start, especially in higher-elevation spots north of I-84.

Litchfield County gets split: towns in the southern half may start as a mix or rain, while the northern hills from around Torrington northward are more likely to see mainly snow.

In the Hartford area, including West Hartford and East Hartford, early-morning snow could create slick spots before things get messy later in the day.

Midday to Afternoon: Coastal Changeover, Inland Mix

As the storm matures, milder air noses in from the south and east, especially along Long Island Sound. That’ll take snow chances down in coastal communities while inland towns deal with a mix of precipitation.

During the afternoon:

The Connecticut shoreline from Greenwich through New Haven to Groton should see mostly rain, with temps climbing into the low to mid-40s.

Eastern Connecticut, including places like Norwich, Willimantic, and Killingly, will trend toward more rain too, though brief bursts of wet snow might pop up away from the coast.

Inland areas—Hartford County, interior New London County, and higher terrain in Tolland and Windham counties—will likely be dealing with a messy mix of snow, sleet, and rain.

Northern portions of Litchfield, Hartford, and Tolland counties may hold onto steady snow into the afternoon, especially in higher elevations where cold air just won’t quit.

Travel in places like Avon, Simsbury, Vernon, and the northern Litchfield hills could get dicey, with slush, low visibility, and conditions changing fast from town to town.

Tuesday Night: One More Round of Wintry Weather

As Tuesday evening and overnight arrive, the storm starts to pull away. Colder air may sneak back in behind it, letting rain flip back to snow or a wintry mix before everything tapers off early Wednesday.

Lingering Impacts and Temperatures

Overnight lows drop into the upper 20s and low 30s inland, with low to mid-30s along the coast. Any wet surfaces in Danbury, Middletown, and Meriden could refreeze, creating patchy black ice for the Wednesday morning commute.

Folks in hilly and northern communities should be ready for:

Slushy accumulations on secondary roads and driveways.

Reduced visibility in lingering snow showers.

Refreezing of melted snow and slush overnight.

Snowfall Totals: Still Uncertain

The National Weather Service stresses that snowfall totals are still pretty uncertain. The storm’s track and how much mild air eats away at the cold over inland Connecticut will decide whether it’s a minor nuisance or a moderate snow for parts of the state.

Factors Driving the Forecast

Forecasters are watching two key things:

Storm track: If the storm tracks more inland, it’ll pull in more warm air and cut snow totals in spots like Hartford and Willimantic.

Cold air erosion: If cold air hangs on longer over northern counties, places in northern Litchfield, northern Hartford, and northern Tolland could get several inches of snow instead of mostly slush.

Right now, residents from Hartford to Torrington and up toward the Massachusetts line should prepare for plowable snow, but keep in mind totals could shift as new data arrives.

Looking Ahead: A Quieter, Brighter Wednesday

Once the storm exits early Wednesday, a much calmer pattern returns. Skies will turn mostly sunny.

High temperatures will reach the 30s to low 40s statewide, from New Britain to Norwalk and across the Quiet Corner. Any leftover slush should start to melt during the day, but shaded areas might still feel icy.

By Wednesday afternoon, most of Connecticut will just be drying out. Folks may be taking stock of how much snow, if any, actually stuck around from this unpredictable early-winter storm.

Here is the source article for this story: Connecticut could see first snowfall of season as storm tracks up coast, NWS says

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