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

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 Darien-specific forecast as of 10:56 a.m., Wednesday from the National Weather Service:

• Wednesay: Partly sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values between 15 and 20. Light east wind.
• Wednesday night: Snow showers likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Thursday: A slight chance of snow showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 20. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Breezy, with a northwest wind 13 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 0. Wind chill values between -5 and -15. West wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 13. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph.
• Friday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around -1.
• Saturday: A chance of snow after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday: Rain, snow, and freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday Night: A chance of rain, snow, and freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Monday: A chance of snow and freezing rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 27. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 26.