Hartford, Connecticut – Slippery highways and strong wind gusts could create travel hazards across Connecticut beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, as a wetter late-winter pattern increases the risk for freezing rain and coastal wind impacts through Monday, March 2.
According to NOAA’s 6- to 10-day outlook issued Friday, above-normal precipitation is favored across New England during the Thursday-to-Monday window. With temperatures hovering near seasonal averages, brief drops below 32 degrees may allow freezing rain to develop, particularly overnight and during the early morning commute.
Statewide, travel concerns may focus along I-84 from Danbury through Hartford and into Tolland County, where bridges and overpasses freeze first. In Hartford, elevated ramps near the Charter Oak Bridge could turn slick if light icing develops. Along the shoreline, including New Haven and Bridgeport, precipitation may fall mainly as rain but could briefly mix with ice if colder air filters in.
Wind risk increases late in the period, especially Sunday into Monday. Gusts between 40 and 45 mph are possible along the Long Island Sound shoreline and across higher terrain in Litchfield County. Those winds could down tree limbs and trigger scattered power outages.
Residents should secure loose outdoor items, charge essential devices, and allow extra time for travel during peak icing windows. The unsettled pattern continues through March 2, and additional advisories may be issued as systems approach the state.
