Community Corner

Weather Service Calling For Possible 'Near Blizzard' Conditions Friday into Saturday

Current computer models of the approaching storm show it bringing 'significant snowfall' to the state, including Fairfield.

Just days past the 35th anniversary of the historic Blizzard of '78, which dumped more than two feet of snow on Connecticut, another major winter storm is bearing down on New England and current computer models indicate it could bring as much as a foot of snow to some areas.

The National Weather Service today says that the current track of the storm could bring "near blizzard' conditions to parts of the state by Friday night "with significant snowfall likely" across eastern Connecticut and eastern Long Island.

The weather services says it is still watching the approaching system and is holding off on issuing any hazardous weather warnings until the track and size of the storm become more clear.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The impending snow is the result of two storms that are coming together, one from the Great Lakes region, the other from the Gulf Coast, as they approach the Northeast, according to Fox Meteorologist Rachel Frank. The Gulf system has a lot of moisture and the one from the Great Lakes is bringing little precipitation but plenty of cold air, Frank says.

A mix of rain and snow is expected to fall Thursday night, but the real event will begin on Friday when rain, sleet, and snow will spread across the state in the morning and change to all snow after 9 p.m. Snow will continue into Saturday morning. Some areas will see a few inches of snow, others will see more than a foot.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the Winter Weather Watch issued by the National Weather Service, areas of coastal Connecticut could see between 10 and 20 inches of snow by the time the storm has blasted through.

The long range forecast for Fairfield calls for clearing on Saturday with temperatures reaching 31 degrees. Sunday will be mostly sunny with temps climbing into the 30s.

In 1978 a blizzard hit the state on Feb. 6 and the storm, which raged for about 24 hours, left as much as 30 inches of snow in some areas, forcing the closing of the state and paralyzing traffic for days.


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