Weather: Wet, Windy, Not Quite Wicked [UPDATE]

Update 3:01 p.m.:

According to a "Coastal Flooding Statement" issued by the National Weather Service at 12:12 p.m., tides are expected to be 1.5 to 2 feet above normal late this afternoon, somewhat less than the earlier estimate of 1.5 to 2.5 feet above normal.

"Water levels will locally touch or slightly exceed minor coastal flooding levels," according to the weather service statement.

The service's "Hazardous Weather Outlook" statement, issued at 6:51 a.m. Wednesday, has not been updated, and so it appears to remain in effect.

Update 7:35 a.m.:

Expect 1 to 2 inches of rain today and winds of 15 to 25 mph, but be ready for 2 to 3 inches sometime today and gusts of up to 30 mph this afternoon, the National Weather Service says.

"Significant urban and small-stream flooding is possible where bands of heavy rain develop," the weather service says in the latest "Hazardous Weather Outlook" forecast issued for the region at 6:51 a.m..

According to that forecast, tides should be 1.5 to 2.5 feet above normal, "possibly producing minor tidal flooding during the times of high tide today. Areas most impacted will be in western Long Island Sound." Norwalk is in western Long Island Sound.

"Water levels will locally touch or slightly exceed minor coastal flooding levels," the weather service stated in a "Coastal Flood Statement" issued at 4:57 a.m.

In its Norwalk-specific forecast, issued at 6:58 a.m., the weather service says "rain could be heavy at times," although it mentions only "rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible." Winds of 9 to 17 mph are predicted. The temperature is expected to reach a high of 64 degrees.

Editor's note, 8:01 a.m.: The bottom of the 7:39 a.m. National Weather Service map (accompanying to this article) has such a perfectly round bottom that it appears to be a technical glitch in the mapping system rather than the real shape of the storm.

Original article, Tuesday:

Rain, fast and hard, with winds gusting to as much as 33 mph, may be coming   Wednesday, so if you take the umbrella, remember to hold it tight.

In a pair of forecasts, the National Weather Service says that there's a 100 percent chance of rain in Norwalk on Wednesday, with 1 to 2 inches "possible" according to the Norwalk-specific forecast, but "probable" according to the "Hazardous Weather Outlook" for the region.

A "heavier band of 2-3 inches [is] possible," according to the Hazardous Weather Outlook for southern Connecticut and the New York metropolitan region, which also states:

"Significant urban and small-stream flooding is possible where the heavy rain band sets up. East winds are forecast to increase to 15-25 mph, with gusths of 30 to 40 mph resulting in tidal departures from 1.5 to 2.5 feet above normal. This may cause some minor tidal flooding during the times of high tide Wednesday afternoon. This surge could be exacerbated in western Long Island Sound by wave action."

According to the specific Norwalk forecast, rain is likely this evening (60 percent probability) but only about a tenth of an inch is expected to fall. The 100 percent probability of rain is limited to the daytime on Wednesday. Then on Wednesday night, there's an 80 percent probability of precipitation, with showers expected mostly before 11 p.m., but at most a quarter to a half an inch of rain is "possible."

Thursday is expected to be "breezy" with winds of 14 to 20 mph possible. The skies should be partly sunny, with a high temperature of about 69 degrees. No rain is in Thursday's forecast.