NEWS ALERT: Friday, Jan. 18–Wilton, get ready for not only weekend snow but also brutally cold temperatures and possible ice-covered tree branches–and everything that may come with that.
Saturday to Sunday
The National Weather Service is calling for snow, sleet and freezing rain on late Saturday night into Sunday, with an accumulation of around 5 inches, topped by about an inch of ice for Wilton. That snow will likely continue into Sunday afternoon. The precipitation will be accompanied by wind gusts, as high as 30 mph.
Sunday temperatures will hit a high of 34 in the morning, but begin to drop throughout the day, until it hits . Temperatures will be cold with a high of 34 at 9 a.m. dropping all day to a low of 5-10 degrees at midnight. Combine that with the winds, and the wind chill will be 10 below zero.
Monday
Monday will be brutal. Actual temperatures will be in the single digits but because of high winds, at 9 a.m. on Monday morning the wind chill factor will be 29 below zero. Winds will gust up to 35 mph through the afternoon, pushing the wind chill to 21-below at noon, finally warming up to a wind chill of 5-below by midnight.
Tuesday
It looks only slightly better into Tuesday morning. Temperatures will be in the single digits–by school bus time it should be about 2-degrees with a wind chill of minus-2.
Further out, temperatures warm up, projected to hit a high of 44 on Wednesday and 37 on Thursday. The NWS is predicting a 50% chance of rain too, so whatever snow we get this weekend may melt away by midweek.
State and Local Preparation
Town officials are prepping for the coming weather and the state government has issued its own warnings and alerts. Chris Burney, director of Wilton’s Department of Public Works and Facilities says his department, as usual, will work around the clock as needed to keep town roads clear, sanded and plowed. He does anticipate that some ice covered tree limbs might fall as a result of the precipitation, so residents should prepare for related possible power outages.
In addition, Governor Ned Lamont has directed several state agencies to implement severe cold weather protocols between Sunday, Jan. 20-Wednesday, Jan. 23, including the CT state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP)’s Division of Emergency Management (DEMHS); the Department of Housing; Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS); and Department of Social Services (DSS). Included in the protocol implementation are partners including United Way 2-1-1, and the CT Coalition to End Homelessness.
The Governor has told cities to consider opening warming centers or other facilities to help as needed. Residents are encouraged to call 2-1-1 to find shelter space if necessary.