WINDS GRADUALLY INCREASING ACROSS CONNECTICUT…
POWER OUTAGES BEGINNING TO CLIMB…

At 7:00 PM radar showed a line of showers and thunderstorms in NY and another area of showers and thunderstorms moving into the mid-Atlantic States. This area of rain over the mid-Atlantic is the leading edge of an area of heavy rain, strong winds and a few reported tornadoes that is moving up the East Coast and is forecast to reach Southeastern NY and Western CT by midnight. South winds are currently gusting to near 30 MPH along the CT coast and are gusting to 35 MPH inland across higher elevations. Towns are advised to assume that any showers or thunderstorms that form and move towards their towns contain high winds.

The peak period for this storm is still expected between 10:00 PM and 2:00 AM in Southwestern CT and between 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM in Central CT and from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM in Eastern CT. Based on early reports of damage, towns should be prepared for tree and some property damage as stronger winds and heavy rains move into the state from the west later this evening. Towns should continue to expect wind gusts (especially during periods of heavy rain or thunderstorms) to reach 55 – 60+ MPH at times and torrential downpours with rainfall rates of 1 – 2 inches per hour. Tree damage may be more widespread in areas that received heavy rain this morning that has soaked soils and may loosen some trees. Rainfall is still expected to total between 3 – 6 inches with locally higher amounts or around 7 inches possible in some areas before ending by mid afternoon on Friday.