Connecticut’s in the grip of a classic December cold snap. Wind chills are starting near zero Tuesday, and afternoon highs are barely scraping above freezing.
A midweek system looks set to bring a messy wintry mix before switching to rain. From shoreline cities like New Haven and Bridgeport to inland spots such as Hartford and Danbury, folks should brace for several days of below-normal temps, spotty snow showers, and potential travel headaches.
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Arctic Air Holds On Across Connecticut
We’re heading deeper into December, inching closer to the winter solstice. The sun angle is at its weakest now, so even when skies clear up, the atmosphere just doesn’t warm much.
Any afternoon heating is minimal. This pattern looks locked in for the next few days, so temperatures will stay low and wind chills will feel downright uncomfortable, especially during the morning and evening commutes.
Tuesday: Brutal Wind Chills, Limited Warmup
Tuesday kicks off with air temps in the teens and low 20s. Brisk northwest winds will push the *feels-like* readings down near zero in a lot of towns.
Even as the sun tries to peek through, readings only crawl upward. By afternoon, highs stay below freezing for most:
Clouds will start thickening by late afternoon and evening as a weak disturbance moves in. Some light snow showers might break out, especially away from the immediate coast.
Still, current signs point to little to no accumulation. Roads could briefly turn slick where flakes fall on sub-freezing pavement, especially on untreated secondary roads in places like Norwich and the interior of New London County.
Midweek Wintry Mix Brings Travel Concerns
The weather gets more active Wednesday as a low-pressure system tracks through the Great Lakes. This storm will drag milder air north, but not before dropping a period of wintry precipitation across Connecticut.
It’s not shaping up to be a major snowstorm. Still, the timing and type of precipitation could cause headaches for drivers, especially on Wednesday.
Wednesday: Snow to Sleet and Rain
Precipitation should arrive as a wintry mix, likely starting as light snow or a snow/sleet blend in many inland spots. As warmer air moves in above, the snow will gradually turn to sleet and then plain rain from south to north.
Here’s how it could play out:
The most noticeable impact could be on travel during the day Wednesday. Even light snow or a wintry mix falling on cold roads can make for slick spots on highways like I-84, I-91, and the Merritt Parkway.
Commuters should plan for extra time, use caution on bridges and overpasses, and be ready for changing conditions as precipitation flips from frozen to liquid.
Cold Pattern Holds Through Late Week
After the midweek system moves out, Connecticut doesn’t warm up right away. Instead, we stay stuck in a chilly pattern heading into the latter half of the week.
Temperatures will remain seasonably cold. Nighttime readings will drop enough to keep heating systems humming across the state.
Thursday and Friday: Seasonably Cold, More Clouds
Highs on Thursday and Friday will mostly reach the 30s across the state. Lows drop into the teens and 20s each night.
This setup means leftover moisture could refreeze, especially in rural stretches of Litchfield County. Interior spots like Windham and towns east of Hartford should watch for slick patches.
Shoreline areas—think Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London—get a mix of sun and clouds. Highs run between about 29 and 34 degrees.
Inland regions, from Danbury and Waterbury to the Greater Hartford area, start sunny but see more clouds as the day goes on. There’s a small chance for a few stray snow showers in the evening.
The Litchfield Hills will be partly cloudy, with a shot at a few overnight snow showers. Highs stay chilly, ranging from 25 up to nearly 30 degrees.
Here is the source article for this story: Frozen temperatures and wintry mix in Connecticut’s forecast. Here’s how much snow we could see.
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