'Near Blizzard' Conditions Now Forecast for Durham, Middlefield

After a week of hearing about a developing snowstorm and how it may be a near-miss, the forecast has changed. The National Weather Service is predicting a significant winter storm with near blizzard conditions.

What makes a storm a blizzard?

A blizzard contains large amounts of snow or blowing snow, with winds higher than 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for at least three hours, according to the NWS.

The National Weather Service said the conditions for Middlesex, New London, Fairfield and New Haven counties could be “near blizzard.” Traveling Saturday afternoon and evening may be very difficult, the weather service says.

The snowfall projections are all over the place with a minimum of two inches, and a maximum of eight inches possible. But this appears to be a storm where the closer you live to the Shoreline, the more snow you’ll receive, likely in the six-inch range.

• Click here to sign up for our daily newsletter and news alerts.
• Durham-Middlefield Patch - Facebook

A Winter Storm Watch is now in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. According to the bulletin, this is what we can expect:

• Hazard types… Heavy snow
• Accumulations… Snow accumulation of 2 to 8 inches
• Winds… North 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph
• Temperatures in the mid-20s
• Visibilities… One half mile or less at times
• Timing… Saturday morning through sunday afternoon
• Impacts… Hazardous travel due to reduced visibilities and significant snow accumulations
• Blowing and drifting of snow with near blizzard conditions are expected due to strong winds

Your National Weather Service Forecast

• Friday Night: A chance of snow, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

• Saturday: Snow, mainly after 10am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 33. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a northeast wind 22 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

• Saturday Night: Snow, mainly before 5am. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 24. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Windy, with a north wind 21 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

• Sunday: A chance of snow, mainly before 7am. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north wind 13 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

• Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.

Photo by CaptPiper, via flickr creative commons