CT Weather

03/22/2025

Great Aurora display around the state tonight! Thanks Kris Walko Stewart for sharing this with our meteorologists!

03/20/2025

It doesn't feel like it - but it is officially spring today!

Welcome to Spring in Connecticut As we bid farewell to winter, the arrival of the spring equinox on March 20th marks the official start of spring in Connecticut. This astronomical event occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, heading north, resulting in nearly equal hours of daylight and....

03/20/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/20:

Expect mostly cloudy skies for Thursday. A moist low-level flow will likely result in some fog to start, and clouds with patchy drizzle as the day progresses. Drizzle is already being reported at several stations to start the day. A cold front approaches Thursday night with showers breaking out after 9PM. Temperatures drop as the night progresses, and precipitation may even end as some wet snow by Friday morning across the interior. At this point, however, I am confident there will be little to now snow accumulation, even in places that do get flakes. The best chance at a coating is the highest hills of Litchfield County.

Friday will be windy and much cooler, with highs in the 40s and wind gusts of 30-45 mph, making it feel like it’s in the 20s and 30s all day. Any lingering rain or snow showers should diminish by mid-morning. The weekend looks decent overall, though a cold front passing through Saturday afternoon or evening may bring a shower, but coverage is expected to be minimal. Cooler air will return for Sunday, possibly setting the stage for another period of rain or snow showers on Monday. As is typical this time of year, snow is most likely across the interior with rain expected at the shoreline.

03/18/2025

Morning lows have dipped to 30 to 35 degrees across the area. Forecast Discussion 3/18:

Localized black ice cannot be ruled out, but winds yesterday and last night were able to dry up a lot of the residual moisture. The storm system that affected our area yesterday has moved out to the east, with high pressure building in from the west. High pressure will yield mostly sunny skies for Tuesday and Wednesday. Expecting highs in the 60s inland and 50s at the shoreline both days.

A cold front approaches later in the day on Thursday with another chance of showers Thursday evening. Some models have even hinted rain changing to wet snow across the interior Thursday night. Experience says this is likely overdone on the modeling to an extent, but it is still March and cannot rule out some light accumulations across primarily Northern CT, especially with precipitation falling at night. Stay tuned to this forecast especially across the higher elevations of Litchfield, Hartford, and Tolland Counties.

Temperatures cool into the 40s for highs on Friday before moderating once again for a pleasant weekend featuring sunshine and highs in the middle to upper 50s.

03/18/2025

Nicer weather through the middle of the week :)

Temperatures will drop to near or below freezing Monday night. With some residual moisture, it is possible there is patchy black ice or refreeze, especially in areas that saw more than an inch of rainfall where runoff may be more common. High pressure builds in for Tuesday and Wednesday with pleasan...

03/18/2025

Sunset really popped tonight!

📸 Gladys Cruz

03/17/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/17:

A storm system is impacting the area with widespread rainfall this morning. Winds were gusty across the region last night resulting in isolated tree and power issues but have subsided as of this morning. Expect numerous showers this morning, followed by more sporadic scattered showers during the afternoon. The precipitation will slowly come to an end from west to east as the afternoon progresses. Temperatures will fall during the day on Monday as well, with 50s being replaced by 40s for many areas by midafternoon. The exception to this will be far Eastern zones that look to stay mild through the evening before temperatures fall. Lows Monday night and Tuesday morning will likely approach freezing (30 to 35 degrees) so did include the possibility for some black ice/refreeze in the hazard summary.

Sunshine and warmer temperatures return Tuesday and Wednesday, which are both expected to be awesome weather days for the middle to March in Southern New England. Expecting highs in the 60s inland and 50s at the shoreline. A cold front approaches later in the day on Thursday with another chance of showers and perhaps a rumble of thunder Thursday evening. Temperatures cool into the 40s Friday before moderating once again for a pleasant weekend featuring sunshine and highs in the middle to upper 50s.

03/14/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/14:

Visible satellite shows overcast skies across the region this morning that really hindered viewing of the 2025 Lunar Eclipse last night. Low clouds will dissipate to an extent during the day today but may remain stubborn in coastal locations and areas to the east of the CT River. Decided to go with ‘partly cloudy’ in most areas and ‘mostly cloudy’ in Eastern zones today.

Clouds will increase once again on Friday night as we begin to get into more of a moist, southerly flow ahead of our next system. Patchy fog is expected Friday night into Saturday as well and may be slow to burn off. Mostly cloudy to overcast skies continue on Saturday with a patchy drizzle possible as well. Low pressure tracks from the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning to off the Mid Atlantic by Sunday night. An associated cold front will bring a period of showers and breezy conditions on Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning. At this point there is good consensus on a faster-moving system, mitigating flood risk and allowing for rainfall totals about 0.75 to 1.50 inches.

Any lingering rain clears the area by around noon on Monday. Sunshine and warmer temperatures return Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with highs in the 60s and inland areas perhaps making a run at 70 degrees.

03/13/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/13:

Morning satellite reveals partly cloudy skies over the region. Expect a cool ESE flow today to result in highs in the 40s with a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures dip down around freezing tonight across the interior, followed by a rebound into the 50s to close out the work week on Friday. Friday should feature more sun overall as well, especially in Western areas.

Clouds will increase once again on Friday night as we begin to get into more of a moist, southerly flow ahead of our next system. Patchy fog is expected Friday night into Saturday morning as well. Mostly cloudy skies continue on Saturday with some filtered sunshine. Low pressure tracks from the Tennessee Valley early Sunday morning to off the Mid Atlantic by Sunday night. An associated cold front will bring a period of showers and breezy conditions on Sunday afternoon through early Monday morning. At this point there is good consensus on a faster-moving system, mitigating flood risk and allowing for rainfall totals about 0.75 to 1.50 inches.

Any lingering rain clears the area by around noon on Monday. Sunshine and warmer temperatures return Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with highs in the 60s and inland areas perhaps making a run at 70 degrees.

Have a great day!

03/12/2025

137 Years Ago: The Blizzard of 1888 Roars Into CT.

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from students when I visit local schools is, “What do you think was the worst snowstorm of all time?” The answer is always the same. The Blizzard of 1888, also known as the “Great White Hurricane,” is one of the most infamous blizzards in ...

03/12/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/12:

Morning satellite shows mostly sunny skies across the region. A northerly wind will result in somewhat cooler air on Wednesday, which was initially forecasted to be the warmest day of the week. Confident this morning that much of the area does reach the low to middle 50s, however. Clouds will be on the increase this afternoon and evening ahead of a weak clipper system moving from the Great Lakes down into Southern New England.

No major changes to the forecast as we head into tonight. A weak clipper system is anticipated to bring rain and snow showers on Wednesday night, but much of the steadiest activity will stay north of Connecticut. This system will also lead to cooler conditions on Thursday, with temperatures in the mid-40s. Temperatures are expected to rise again on Friday and Saturday, potentially reaching the upper 50s or 60s.

Clouds will increase on Saturday ahead of the next larger system, which is forecasted to bring periods of rain late Sunday into Monday. About 1.0 to 1.5 inches of rain is a good early estimate, although a slower track as shown on the latest European model could lead to locally high amounts, especially over Eastern zones. Keeping an eye on the flood potential in Eastern CT and Rhode Island.

03/11/2025

Forecast Update 3/11:

Sunny and warm conditions are expected again today, with a southwest wind direction potentially pushing temperatures into the upper 60s or even reaching 70°F. This time of year, temperatures often exceed expectations on warm March and April days due to the lack of foliage and dry air. The wind direction is crucial, as Long Island Sound remains in the low 40s, making any wind off the water quite chilly. Consequently, this afternoon temperatures may be closer to 50 degrees on the beaches while 65 degrees just a few miles inland.

In addition to the warm and dry conditions, there is an elevated risk of wildfire spread today, particularly with afternoon wind gusts reaching 20-25 mph. A special weather statement has been issued to address this risk.

Cooler air is expected to move in on Wednesday, which was initially forecasted to be the warmest day of the week. Current guidance suggests temperatures will range from the mid to upper 50s, though some models indicate cooler temperatures in the upper 40s. Decided to lean towards the warmer end of guidance for now.

A weak system is anticipated to bring rain and snow showers on Wednesday night. While this is not expected to have a significant impact, there is a possibility of a light coating in the Litchfield Hills. This system will lead to cooler conditions on Thursday, with temperatures in the mid-40s. Temperatures are expected to rise again on Friday and Saturday, potentially reaching the upper 50s or 60s. However, clouds will increase on Saturday ahead of the next larger system, which is forecasted to bring periods of rain late Sunday into Monday. About 1.0 to 1.5 inches of rain is a good early estimate.

03/10/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/10:

Temperatures warm considerably to start the work week, with highs climbing well into the 50s Monday and the 60s on Tuesday. Temperature forecasts are always a bit challenging this time of year, as stronger sun angle can allow for highs to overperform modeling when winds are out of the west or southwest. Conversely, water temperatures on Long Island Sound and the Atlantic remain quite cold, so any wind off the water will immediately cool temperatures. This can also create scenarios where there is a large temperature gradient from the shoreline to slightly inland, so please keep this in mind during the coming week.

Cooler high pressure builds in for Wednesday with a weak clipper system sliding under the high Wednesday night. Cannot rule out some rain or snow showers with this system, but it does not look overly impactful at this time.

Temperatures warm again for the end of the week, with low to mid 60s looking likely Friday through Sunday away from the immediate shoreline. A storm system approaches on Sunday which could bring a period of showers, possibly heavy at times. Stay tuned!

03/07/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/7:

Clear skies and colder temperatures to start your Friday, with a few isolated areas of refreeze being reported this morning. The big story today will continue to be the gusty winds. A WIND ADVISORY is in effect for the entire region through the day, with winds finally diminishing to below advisory thresholds by the evening. Winds will gust between 40 and 50 mph today, peaking during the early afternoon hours. A few areas across the hills of Northern CT may see isolated higher gusts. Scattered power outages are expected, but the threat is somewhat mitigated by the NW wind direction and lack of foliage.

A weak system slides south of the area Friday night. Cannot rule out a flurry through CT but thinking most stay dry. The weekend looks cooler (upper 30s to mid-40s) and dry overall. The clipper system we were watching for Sunday night looks to stay North of the area, so not expecting any precipitation within the forecast zones.

Temperatures warm considerably next week with highs in the 50s and 60s. With our increasing March sun angle, it still looks like its going to be a full-on Spring preview, especially Tuesday and Wednesday.

03/06/2025

Winds pick up this evening and it stays gusty through tomorrow!

A WIND ADVISROY is in effect statewide from this this evening through Friday evening. Winds will slowly ramp up this as this evening progresses. It will start to feel gustier after 6PM and then winds will really ramp up between 10PM and 12AM. The peak of the winds will last from about 12AM tonight t...

03/06/2025

Forecast Discussion: 3/6

The bulk of the rain has moved out of the area as of early this morning, but a few scattered showers are still making their way through the region. These will be low impact and transient in nature, but cannot rule out a shower through early afternoon. In general, Thursday will be a mild day with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the middle to upper 50s. Colder air will be lurking, however, and will begin to funnel into the area Thursday evening into Friday. Temperatures will drop below freezing by late Thursday evening. In addition, a period of strong winds is possible during this time, with gusts out of the northwest at 35 to 50 mph lasting much of Thursday night and through the day on Friday.

The weekend looks cooler and dry overall, but a weak clipper system may result in some rain and snow showers as it moves through Sunday night. This does not appear to be an impactful event as this time, and accumulating snow is unlikely.

Temperatures warm considerably next week with highs in the 50s and 60s. With our increasing March sun angle, its going to be a full on Spring preview.

03/05/2025

Latest on storm system impacting the area today!

Drizzle and light showers are being reported over the area this morning. Expect breezy conditions with periods of drizzle and scattered showers to continue through the day today. Temperatures will be warm (middle 50s for most) but a strong cold front will impact the area this evening. HRRR

03/05/2025

Forecast Discussion 3/5:

Ground observations have already noted light shower activity around the area this morning. Expect overcast and breezy with periods of drizzle and scattered showers through the day today. The bulk of the heavy rain moves into the area after 5PM and lasts through about 12AM Thursday. During this period expect heavy rainfall rates with embedded lightning and thunder possible. Winds will gust 30 to 40 mph through this afternoon and evening, with the potential for gusts to 45 mph over eastern zones. Isolated tree and power issues cannot be ruled out, especially with the southerly wind direction. Total rainfall of 1.0 to 2.0 inches appears likely by the time the rain ends in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Thursday will be a mild day with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the middle to upper 50s. Cannot rule out a passing shower during the day based on the latest short-range guidance, but most of the day will remain dry. Colder air will be lurking, however, and will begin to funnel into the area Thursday evening into Friday. A period of even stronger winds is possible during this time, with gusts out of the northwest at 35 to 50 mph lasting much of Thursday night and through the day on Friday.

The weekend looks cooler and dry overall, but a weak clipper system may result in some rain and snow showers as it moves through Sunday night.