Impacts of Developing Nor'Easter Uncertain

A nor'easter developing along the mid-Atlantic is forecast to hit our area Wednesday morning — exactly how bad it will be is still up in the air, though.

With the storm expected to intensify as it slowly tracks east, the National Weather Service today issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for southern Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties in Connecticut.

"Forecast uncertainty surrounds the exact details of how this storm will evolve," according to the weather service, "but the potential exists for widespread minor to moderate coastal flooding ... high surf and significant beach erosion along the ocean facing beaches and Twin Forks of Long Island ... and strong winds with gusts between 40 and 50 miles per hour."

As a result, a Coastal Flood Watch was also issued at 5:09 a.m. today, March 5, and will carry through 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, according to the National Weather Service. The watch affects southern Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties.

In addition, the service says, "While the current forecast keeps snowfall amounts between 1 and 3 inches ... there is a chance for higher accumulations ... mainly Wednesday night."

According to the National Weather Service, Wendesday is expected to start with a chance of snow that rain that will turn to rain, but with little or no accumulation. Winds could reach 33 mph.

• Wednesday Night: Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 10 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Blustery, with a north wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Thursday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Windy, with a north wind 24 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Thursday Night: A chance of rain before 1am, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 31. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Friday: A chance of snow before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 40%.