'Near Blizzard Conditions' Possible Saturday In Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield could see more than a foot of snowfall in the next 24 hours.

The area is under a winter storm warning from 7 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday and a coastal flood statement has been issued for 6-10 a.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Near blizzard conditions are possible for a period on Saturday,” the storm warning said, adding that wind gusts could down tree branches and visibility may be less than a quarter-mile Saturday morning.

Snowfall is expected to start around 10 p.m. Friday, with 2-4 inches overnight and another 5-9 inches Saturday, according to the weather service.

“Up to one-half foot of inundation above ground level expected in vulnerable areas near the waterfront and shoreline,” the flood statement said.

Wind chills could hit zero degrees overnight Friday, drop as low as minus 5 degrees Saturday, fall to minus 10 degrees Saturday night and stay below zero degrees Sunday, according to the weather service, which predicted wind gusts as high as 40 mph Saturday.

The town of Fairfield on Friday announced emergency parking restrictions in preparation for the storm. Parking will be allowed only on the even-numbered sides of town streets from midnight Saturday through noon Sunday. Violators may be ticketed or towed. Residents can also park in any public school lot in town.

“Travel is expected to be difficult and dangerous so we ask residents to please stay off the roads during the storm when possible so DPW can clear the snow,” First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said in a news release, adding property owners must clear sidewalks within a day after the weather event.

The Fairfield Public Library will be closed Saturday.

For more information, visit www.fairfieldct.org/storm.