What could make pre-Thanksgiving traffic even more horrendous? Torrential rain and high winds!
Timing: Tonight through Wednesday afternoon. The heaviest rain and highest winds will occur after midnight through Wednesday morning.
Alerts: The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch in effect statewide from midnight through Wednesday afternoon. With the rainfall deficit at 5-6 inches, major rivers are extremely low and will not flood. But some smaller streams will rise. Poor drainage flooding will be an issue, especially with all the leaves on the ground (some clogging storm drains). Also, basement flooding could be an issue, especially if you still have leaves in your gutters.
In addition, a Wind Advisory is in effect for Hartford, Tolland, Windham, New London, Middlesex counties and the shoreline of New Haven and Fairfield Counties with gusts up to 50 mph. High winds could take down small/weak tree limbs and produce a few outages too.
Forecast Details:
The rain has already started, mixing in with sleet in some towns. But any mix will change entirely over to rain as temperatures climb through the evening and overnight hours. By tomorrow morning, temperatures will be soaring through the 40s and low 50s.
Rain will come down in sheets Wednesday morning accompanied by winds gusting up to 40 or 50 miles an hour. Rain will taper off in the mid to late afternoon, ending at night. Sharply colder air will follow. This means any leftover puddles Wednesday night could turn into an ice skating rink by Thanksgiving morning.
At the Manchester Road Race, temperatures will start off right around the 30 degree mark, but it will feel like the teens when you factor in the winds! Gusts will get up to 30 mph. High temperatures will only reach into the low 30s. Sunshine will mix with a few clouds as the day progresses.
Daily Forecast:
Tonight: Rain, becoming heavy. Winds increasing. Temperatures rising through the 40s.
Tomorrow: Rain, heavy at times. Gusty south wind blowing at 15 to 30 miles an hour with gusts to 40-50 (highest in eastern CT). Rain tapering off mid-late afternoon. High temperature in the mid 50s to near 60 degrees.
Thursday: Colder and blustery. Northwest winds 10 to 25 miles an hour with gusts up to 40. Wind chill in the 10s and 20s. High temperature in the low 30s.
Friday: Mostly sunny, cool. Less wind than recent days. High temperatures in the middle 30s inland, upper 30s for the shoreline.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, a bit milder. Increasing clouds late. High temperatures in the upper 30s to near 40 degrees.
Sunday: Increasing clouds, a bit milder than recent days. Chance for a rain or snow shower late day or at night. High temperatures in the low 40s.