Just a quick update to post on current conditions/storm evolution.
The snow map looks generally on track. With snow perhaps breaking out a bit quicker than originally anticipated and into cooler and drier air, there could be a few places on the coast that receive a little more (an additional inch at most) than the current map has. It also wouldn't surprise me if the core of the 2-4" is further north than currently modeled and that a few places in the far NW get a 6" report or two, but this should be mainly restricted to elevations over 1000 feet.
However, these are all very small changes in the grand scheme of things and the general theme offered on the last snow map looks very good.
As far as impacts on the Monday morning commute, Southern Connecticut should have little to no impacts, as it should be raining by then and any snow on roadways will have melted. The Hartford metro and NW Hills will probably have impacts. Hartford proper may be raining by then, but it will just have turned over, so the roadways will probably still have snow on them. The NW Hills will either be snowing, or even worse, perhaps into freezing rain there, so the morning commute there should be a mess. It's the areas in between, from Danbury to Waterbury, that I am the most uncertain about. These areas could have rapidly changing conditions along a commute, where lower elevations and more urbanized areas could be just wet and higher elevations and those away from the cities could be icy or snowpacked still. Use caution in these areas!
Looking beyond quickly for the rest of the week, the Wednesday coastal system should probably stay far enough south to miss our area, but it has trended a bit north, so it still bears watching.
Bitterly cold air then infiltrates the area, with snow squalls Thursday and Friday. Temperatures Friday morning will be close to record levels. Combined with very windy conditions, this could create dangerously cold wind chills! In addition, with both the surface and aloft very cold, any snow squalls could put down quick accumulations, making for slippery driving conditions.
Another storm system is then slated to affect the state for the weekend. With the storm most likely tracking to our west and bringing in warmer air, it would favor a snow changing to rain scenario. It could possibly produce more snow for some areas than this one, as the air mass is colder to start and the storm could have more moisture to work with!
Anyway, that's enough for now... I'll update this package with a full short and long range briefing on Tuesday! Until then, stay safe on the roads tomorrow!
-GP!
The snow map looks generally on track. With snow perhaps breaking out a bit quicker than originally anticipated and into cooler and drier air, there could be a few places on the coast that receive a little more (an additional inch at most) than the current map has. It also wouldn't surprise me if the core of the 2-4" is further north than currently modeled and that a few places in the far NW get a 6" report or two, but this should be mainly restricted to elevations over 1000 feet.
However, these are all very small changes in the grand scheme of things and the general theme offered on the last snow map looks very good.
As far as impacts on the Monday morning commute, Southern Connecticut should have little to no impacts, as it should be raining by then and any snow on roadways will have melted. The Hartford metro and NW Hills will probably have impacts. Hartford proper may be raining by then, but it will just have turned over, so the roadways will probably still have snow on them. The NW Hills will either be snowing, or even worse, perhaps into freezing rain there, so the morning commute there should be a mess. It's the areas in between, from Danbury to Waterbury, that I am the most uncertain about. These areas could have rapidly changing conditions along a commute, where lower elevations and more urbanized areas could be just wet and higher elevations and those away from the cities could be icy or snowpacked still. Use caution in these areas!
Looking beyond quickly for the rest of the week, the Wednesday coastal system should probably stay far enough south to miss our area, but it has trended a bit north, so it still bears watching.
Bitterly cold air then infiltrates the area, with snow squalls Thursday and Friday. Temperatures Friday morning will be close to record levels. Combined with very windy conditions, this could create dangerously cold wind chills! In addition, with both the surface and aloft very cold, any snow squalls could put down quick accumulations, making for slippery driving conditions.
Another storm system is then slated to affect the state for the weekend. With the storm most likely tracking to our west and bringing in warmer air, it would favor a snow changing to rain scenario. It could possibly produce more snow for some areas than this one, as the air mass is colder to start and the storm could have more moisture to work with!
Anyway, that's enough for now... I'll update this package with a full short and long range briefing on Tuesday! Until then, stay safe on the roads tomorrow!
-GP!
