Possible Rain, Sleet, Snow May Make for Slick Roads this Evening in Manchester

By BRIAN MCCREADY (Patch Staff)

Just in time for April Fools’ Day we just may be seeing some snow flakes later today, possibly in time for the evening commute home from work.

(The latest National Weather Service forecast for Manchester doesn’t call for snow, but various Connecticut weather forecasters say it’s possible overnight.)

This won’t amount to much of anything, but because the temperature will be dropping and the precipitation will be failing it’s likely the roads may be slick.

The National Weather Service has issued a “Hazardous Weather Outlook” for Hartford and Tolland counties for light snow accumulation later today. Those areas could see up to an inch of snow, while the rest of Connecticut is forecast to see less than an inch of snow if that.

But the news isn’t all bad, as NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Darren Sweeney writes below.

Again, be careful when driving later tonight.

WTNH News 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons writes “Take your umbrella...A nasty finish to the day with rain, sleet and wet snow arriving 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Slick roads likely this evening in many areas. Bridges are first to get slick. Be careful.”

News 12 writes “For this afternoon and evening. Roads will be messy and slippery tonight. Don’t expect a lot of accumulating snow but it is possible to see very light accumulations in some of our northern communities.”

NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan writes, “A period of rain and snow later today with a weak storm passing underneath us. Can’t rule out some minor accumulation on grassy surfaces - particularly in hilly spots of southern Connecticut.”

And for some good news from NBC Connecticut Meteorologist Darren Sweeney.

“Some model data on Friday, wants to put us near 70! It all has to come together for it to happen, but after today’s snowflakes flying, lets hope. I think if we hit 70 on a Friday, there will be a statewide freakout!”

Here’s the Manchester-specific forecast from the National Weather Service (as of the 12:53 p.m., Tuesday update).

• Tuesday afternoon: Partly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind around 7 mph.
• Tuesday night: A chance of rain, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 28. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind 6 to 8 mph.Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 25. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Friday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Friday night: Showers likely. Patchy fog after midnight. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Saturday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

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Picture (from the Snow Leopard Conservancy/Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department, as posted to Wikimedia Commons): A snow leopard.