The rain that we experience today is going to cause significant icing trouble this evening in addition to the rain changing over to produce a light accumulating snowfall (minor- 1-2"). This, however, is likely going to prevent the vast majority of schools from opening on time tomorrow and, as a result of the flash freeze tonight, I would say there is a high chance...80 percent...of a delay tomorrow and a low chance...10 percent...of schools totally closing tomorrow. The only way we would be able to squeeze a total snow day out of this is if the ice is ridiculously bad or we get more snow than currently forecasted, which is always possible. Looking forward, tomorrow is cold and windy, but temps then moderate for the weekend before we watch the potential for a nor'easter on Monday.
Today in weather history- March 12, 1888- The 'Great Blizzard of '88' strikes southern New England, producing the single greatest snowfall in our area's recorded history. How many of us thought last years Blizzard was bad? Well, it was one foot shy of this one. Imagine this- 70 mph winds, temperatures near 0 degrees through the duration of the storm and...51" of snow in Middletown. It remains the only time on record that Connecticut actually achieved 'Severe Blizzard' conditions. The snow drifts, it was said, went over 50 feet in height, or over the rooftop of a five story building! The only storms that rival this are the Great snow of 1717 and the Blizzard of 2013 (Both of which produced about 40" of snow max). Thus, noting the pattern, these storms happen once every 150 years or so. I hope everyone enjoyed last years blizzard- this shows just how rare it is!
Also of note, the Winter Weather Advisory is below for our readers in Hartford & Tolland county
Winter Weather Advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 408 AM EDT WED MAR 12 2014 ...FLASH FREEZE FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST TONIGHT AS RAIN TRANSITIONS TO SNOW ALONG WITH A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET/FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE... CTZ002>004-MAZ004>019-026-RIZ001>005-121615- /O.EXB.KBOX.WW.Y.0012.140313T0200Z-140313T1600Z/ HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA- NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI- BRISTOL RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION... VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...BARRE...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM... LOWELL...LAWRENCE...GLOUCESTER...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD... AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...WORCESTER... FOXBORO...NORWOOD...CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON...QUINCY...TAUNTON... BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH...AYER...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD...PROVIDENCE... WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BRISTOL 408 AM EDT WED MAR 12 2014 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT THURSDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EDT THURSDAY. * LOCATIONS...MOST OF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND EXCEPT FOR THE IMMEDIATE SOUTH COAST. THE ADVISORY ALSO INCLUDES NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. * HAZARD TYPES...RAIN TRANSITIONS TO SNOW TONIGHT. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE. * ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IN MOST LOCATIONS. 2 TO 4 INCH SNOW AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE NORTH OF ROUTE 2. ICE ACCRETION OF A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. * TIMING...STEADY RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON. THE RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST BETWEEN 10 PM AND 4 AM. A BRIEF PERIOD OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE DURING THE TRANSITION. SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY MORNING BEFORE TAPERING OFF DURING THE AFTERNOON. * IMPACTS...THE MAIN CONCERN IS FOR A FLASH FREEZE AS TEMPERATURES PLUMMET INTO THE TEENS AND LOWER 20S. ROADS MAY QUICKLY FREEZE OVER AS COLDER AIR QUICKLY RUSHES INTO THE REGION. A SMALL SNOW ACCUMULATION MAY HIDE SOME OF THE ICE. THE THURSDAY MORNING RUSH HOUR MAY BE ICY. * WINDS...NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH. * TEMPERATURES...FALLING INTO THE TEENS TO LOWER 20S BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD RESULT IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP. &&
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