Special Weather Statement Issued For Hartford/Tolland County Thursday

HARTFORD/TOLLAND/WINDHAM COUNTY, CT — A special weather statement has been issued by the National Weather Service for northern Connecticut on Thursday.

"Areas of localized dense fog to persist throughout the Thursday morning commute with visibility less than 1/4 mile. Motorists should be aware of rapidly changing reductions to visibility. Use low beam headlights and keep a safe traveling distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you," the weather service said.

After the fog departs, showers and thunderstorms are expected after 3 p.m. Temperatures could rise into the upper 70s. The weather improves significantly for the holiday weekend.

"After a foggy, misty start, clouds break up a bit this afternoon, allowing the sun to really crank up the temperatures," the WFSB 3 TV meteorologists wrote. "Inland areas go from the low 50s to the mid 70s in just a few hours, while an onshore flow at the shoreline keeps highs in the 60s. This also will build up a bit of instability, or energy, for potential thunderstorms to use as the cold front rolls in. The Storm Prediction Center has placed CT in the General Thunderstorm Category, so we can’t rule out a couple of stronger wind gusts, heavy rainfall and lightning to be mindful of. When the thunder roars, go indoors." (Watch the full WFSB 3 TV weather forecast here).

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Forecast details via the National Weather Service:

Today: Areas of drizzle before 2pm, then a chance of rain and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: A chance of rain, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 55. North wind 6 to 9 mph.