CT Snowstorms Likely Into Spring, New Forecast Says

CONNECTICUT — What do rodents know about predicting the weather, anyway?

Neither Punxsutawney Phil nor his lesser-known but more local kin, Chuckles XI, saw their shadows Friday, forecasting an early spring. But the humans at AccuWeather who do this sort of thing more than once a year, and for a living, beg to differ.

AccuWeather Veteran Meteorologist and Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok's latest prediction calls for fierce winter weather through the first half of March. That springtime warm-up the marmots predicted won't arrive until late March and April, according to the professional prognosticators.

That means winter weather could last into meteorological spring in Connecticut, which is recognized as March 1 based on annual temperature cycles.

March could “come in like a lion in the East," Pastelok said, adding “we may have a pretty stormy pattern from late February to the start of March.”

Despite a few dry and relatively balmy weeks, AccuWeather predicts the "window of opportunity for snowstorms in the East will remain open through the first half of March," to the delight of the ski resorts and not many others. Afterward, the "weather pattern will flip" and the risk of significant snowfall will drop along most of the East Coast, including Connecticut.

Related: Balmy, Dry February Predicted For Connecticut In Weather Outlook

Just five days into February, the mercury has already risen to an average of 40s during the day and the mid-20s at night.

The Climate Prediction Center says with 100 percent certainty the strengthening El Niño weather pattern will last through early winter, and with 90 percent certainty that it will last until spring.

The agency, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expects the El Niño pattern to bring above-normal temperatures and equal chances of precipitation to Connecticut this winter.

Related: El Niño Strengthening: How That Could Affect Snowfall In CT

For now, the week ahead in the Nutmeg State is looking clear and at least partly sunny with highs in the 40s most days, climbing to 51 on Friday.

Here’s the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind around 8 mph.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 24. North wind around 8 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 40. North wind 7 to 10 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49. South wind 6 to 13 mph.

Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Northwest wind 9 to 14 mph.