More Snow for Thursday Morning's Commute, Sub-Zero Wind Chills Forecast for Woodbridge, Bethany

By Brian McCready (Patch Staff)

It appears Mother Nature is in the business of nickel-and-diming us when it comes to snow now.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for 1 to 2 inches of snow to fall late tonight and smack dab in the middle of Thursday morning’s commute to work.

WTNH News 8’s Meteorologist Gil Simmons writes on his Facebook page, “[Q]uiet weather today but changes tonight/tomorrow. Snow squalls likely Thursday morning, plan on a slow commute.”

And in reality the one or two new inches of snow isn’t really the greatest concern. As part of its Hazardous Weather Outlook, the National Weather Service states wind chill values will fall as low as 20 to 25 below zero Thursday night through Friday morning.

Wind chills will remain below zero throughout the day on Friday and Friday night.

And the weekend is still days away but right now we could be looking at a nasty mix of snow, ice and then plain rain, which could compromise roofs that are already under a lot of snow, writes NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Darren Sweeney, on Facebook.

He warns about snowy roofs collapsing:

“[W]e already have problems with “roof loading”.. that’s a buildup of snow on our roofs (those living in eastern CT you are about 20 inches ahead of everyone else). [...]

“Adding LIQUID to this, means we could be dealing with roofs being compromised. Also, all drains are clogged, you get the picture. [...] I know I will be out on my roof because it’s getting scary deep.”

Here is the Woodbridge-specific forecast as of 10:53 a.m., Wednesday from the National Weather Service (the very similar Bethany-specific forecast is immediately below):

• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Light northeast wind.
• Wednesday night: Snow showers likely, mainly between midnight and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow showers, mainly before 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 20. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -6. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 13. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -3.
• Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 28.
• Saturday night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday: Rain, snow, and freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday night: A chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Monday: A chance of snow and freezing rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 5.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24.

Here’s the weather service’s Bethany-specific forecast as of the 10:50 a.m., Wednesday update:

• Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Light northeast wind.
• Tonight: Snow showers likely, mainly between midnight and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow showers, mainly before 10am. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 18. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Thursday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around -7. Wind chill values between -10 and -20. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 13. Northwest wind 14 to 17 mph.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around -5.
• Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 26.
• Saturday night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 22. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday: Rain, snow, and freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
• Sunday night: A chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.
• Monday: A chance of snow and freezing rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 4.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 22.