It’s going to get cold in Connecticut.
Yes, after some very unseasonably mild days, the National Weather Service and Accuweather predict a drop into the 22 to 22 degree temperature range for Sunday and Monday, respectively, in Greater Hartford. And only a tad bit warmer a little south in Greater New Haven.
There also is a chance of some snow Friday night and early Saturday.
Brrrr…
Gov. Ned Lamont said that, due to a weather forecast indicating that Connecticut will experience a period of “extremely cold conditions over the next several days,” he is directing the state’s severe cold weather protocol to go into effect beginning at noon. on Saturday, December 21, 2024, and remaining in effect through noon on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
“This is the first time the protocol has been activated this season. Its purpose is to ensure that the most vulnerable populations receive protection from the severe cold, which could be life threatening if exposed to the elements for extended periods of time,” he said. “While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.”
And that cold snap comes after a bit of a warmer stretch as we head toward our holiday weeks here in the Nutmeg State. Rain and snow this week did bring power outages.
Here’s how much came down Monday.
But the real question everybody is wondering, of course, is whether we will have a white Christmas.
It looks like parts of Connecticut could. According to Accuweather’s latest forecast, there might actually be some snow on Christmas Day. The National Weather Service forecast was not quite that far ahead. (we will update you if they do too!)
Update from weather service as promised: A chance of snow after 7 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 24.
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The National Weather Service does predict a “chance of snow” Friday and Friday night.
Keep in mind that despite the potential for snow or flurries in parts of Connecticut on Christmas Day, a white Christmas here is on the rare side, experts say, despite the songs and movies that like to herald them. Here’s data on some cities that did get one and when.
Here’s the National Weather Service “snow map.”
As for the idea of a white Christmas? Accuweather said: “Outside of oddball Christmas storms, however, chances of a white Christmas in the United States are becoming less and less likely.”
In fact, (unless you live in Colordo,) ” none of the 25 most-populated U.S. cities have much more than a one-in-three chance of seeing snow on Christmas morning…,” according to Accuweather.
Even Boston only has a 25% chance, according to Accuweather, which notes, you might expect Bean town “to be higher on the list, especially since Massachusetts is the birthplace of ‘Over the River and Through the Woods,’ a song about heavy snow on Thanksgiving. However, the coastal influence of the warmer Atlantic Ocean knocks a few points off for this city.”
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In its data on White Christmases, the Northeast Regional Climate Center has predicted much of a declining chance for Greater Hartford.
Early this month some towns in Connecticut saw more than six inches of snow as the season’s first storm crossed the state; some schools were closed. (Others got just a dusting)
While we wait to see what Mother Nature brings next week, did you know Connecticut has unveiled what is being called the nation’s first-ever Christmas Movie Trail, according to state officials.
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