If you're out and about during the day today, you wouldn't have any idea that a high-impact winter storm was only 24 hours away. There will be a mix of sun and clouds with high temperatures in the mid to upper 50s.
Tonight there may be a few light showers around the area, but for the most part it'll be a mostly cloudy night with lows in the 40s.
Now we shift our attention to Wednesday.
TIMING:
Rain & snow develops between 6-9 AM, moving from south to north. It'll intensify during the day, peaking during the afternoon and evening on Wednesday. It ends around midnight Thursday morning, and by the time the sun comes up on Thanksgiving, it'll be partly cloudy and chilly.
IMPACT:
Main roads may be able to handle the wintry mix for a while, so travel probably won't be horrible during the morning. As the afternoon progresses, heavier precipitation will be falling, and that could lead to many more travel issues. In the hills, colder air will persist, so roads (especially those less traveled) probably won't respond well. If you have to travel on Wednesday, the earlier you go, the better.
ACCUMULATION:
This is where it could be tricky, depending on how much warm air moves in. It's likely a big chunk of the state will see 3-6 inches of wet snow, mixing with sleet and rain at times. The further east you go in Connecticut, the better chance for rain and sleet to mix in. in fact, the southeast corner of the state will get a slushy 1-3 inches. The hills will be the snowiest, as some of the higher elevations will remain snow through the duration of the storm. That will help deliver more than 6 inches for much of Litchfield County, and even upwards of a foot in some of the hilltops.
BOTTOM LINE:
A messy day, with a "mixed bag" of rain/sleet/snow for much of the day. The fact that it is typically the busiest travel day of the year is concerning. If you have to travel, just remember that earlier will be better.
By Thanksgiving we bring on chilly and dry weather, with sunshine expected for both Thursday and Black Friday. For any deal-seekers getting an early start on their holiday shopping, temperatures will be in the teens and 20s on Friday morning.
