Weather Service Drops 'Hazardous Outlook' Warning, Expects Rain & a Little Snow [Update]

Update 5:20 p.m.:

The National Weather Service has dropped its "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for Thursday and Friday.

The weather service's forecast for Norwalk at 3:01 p.m. predicts rain changing by 8 p.m. to a mixture of rain and snow, with less than a half an inch of snow accumulation possible overnight. The weather service predicts no more than another half inch Friday morning.

The weather service pegs the chance of precipitation tonight and Friday at 100 percent.

The weather service now forecasts winds of 9 to 14 mph (the weather service doesn't mention gusts), with a nightime low temperature of 32 degrees, just at freezing.

Forecasters now expect Friday morning's rain and snow to become all rain by noon, with a north wind of 11 to 15 mph and gusts of up to 25 mph.

For Friday night, the chance of precipitation is 30 percent, according to the weather service, and any rain that comes should be over by 10 p.m. The low temperature overnight is expected to be 34 degrees, which is above freezing. A west wind of 10 to 13 mph may have gusts of up to 25 mph.

Update 8:03 a.m.:

Umbrellas today, boots and ice scrapers Friday morning (but bring the umbrella, too). The National Weather Service forecast for Norwalk as of 4:26 a.m. sounds very certain that we'll be getting precipitation, but temperatures are supposed to waver, so expect rain and snow to alternate a bit through Friday night.

The weather service is maintaining its "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for southern Connecticut and metropolitan New York.

"There is the possibility of a slushy inch of snow accumulation, whih will ause slick conditions for the Friday morning commute," according to the "outlook" forecast for the region, updated at 4:56 a.m. Thursday. Any snow Friday morning "is expected to beminimal and primarily on grassy surfaces before changing back to rain as temperatures rise."

Today's rain (most of it after 2 p.m.) is expected to turn to snow only very late tonight, by about 11 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 70 percent (the lowest chance of the next two days), and the winds will be lighter today than tonight and Friday: only 5 to 11 mph and from the east.

An accumulation of about a half inch of snow is "possible" overnight and maybe as much as another half inch Friday morning and early afternoon. But the weather service is also predicting a low temperature of 34 degrees overnight, and that's above freezing. You'll notice the wind if you're out—it will come from the east at 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Rain and snow may alternate Friday, April 1, until rain wins out at about 2 p.m. The temperature high for the day is expected to hit 42 degrees. A wind from the north will hit us at about 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. You'll notice it, and it'll be wet: The chance of precipitation Friday is 100 percent, forecasters say.

On Friday night, the chance of precipitation is 30 percent. It's expected to be rain before 8 p.m., then snow till midnight. And then, at witching hour, the snow is expected to stop. And maybe, maybe we'll have seen the last of it for the season. A west wind should blow between 14 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

It's not so much March roaring out as April snarling in. But it's forecast to purr a bit on Saturday: sunny skies and a high of 50 degrees. It'll still be windy: Winds from the west will come in at 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Sunday should be much the same. On Monday there's a 30 percent chance of rain, and the Tuesday and Wednesday forecasts are similar.

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Update 12:49 p.m.:

Winter just won't go quietly.

In anticipation of March "out like a lion" snow on Thursday and Friday, the National Weather Service has issued a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" warning of the "potential ... for strong winds and heavy precipitation, including minor to moderate snow accumulation."

The weather service issued the outlook for southern Connecticut and the New York metropolitan region. According to the 6:44 a.m. "Outlook" forecast, "Depending on the exact track and intensity of the system, the potential exists for strong winds and heavy precipitation, including minor to moderate snow accumulation."

The regional report also states: "The currrent timing of this storm would impact the Friday morning commute."

On Thursday there's a slight chance of snow before 8 a.m., then rain as the temperature rises to a high of 46 degrees, according to the separate, Norwalk-specific forecast. The chance of precipitation is 60 percent. According to the forecast, "little or no snow accumulation is expected," and there should be an east wind of 7 to 13 mph.

The weather service predicts rain on Thursday evening before 11 p.m., then rain and snow as the temperature reaches a nightime low of only 31 degrees, just below freezing. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent. An east wind of 15 to 18 mph is expected. A half an inch of new snow may accumulate.

On Friday, rain and snow before 2 p.m. should then turn to all rain with a high temperature of 42 degrees. Half an inch to three quarters of an inch of snow is possible. Winds should pick up even more, with a north wind of 20 to 23 mph.

On Friday night there's a 30 percent chance of rain and snow before midnight, with a predicted low temperature of 32 degrees. The seven-day forecast then calls for a break in the precipitation until Monday and Tuesday, when more rain may fall.

Editor's note: This article was updated to add more information on the regional extent of the "Hazardous Weather Outlook" and details from it.