Hartford, Conn. – Residents across Connecticut are bracing for dangerous thunderstorms Friday afternoon as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect for all eight counties until 9 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, the watch includes Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham counties. Damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph, frequent lightning, and heavy rain are possible across major highways like I-91, I-95, and Route 8. Downed trees and power outages are likely, especially in areas with saturated ground from recent rainfall.
City officials in Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford are urging residents to secure outdoor items and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm window. CT DOT crews are preparing for potential debris on roadways, and Eversource has crews on standby for outages. Schools running summer programs and local camps are moving activities indoors as a precaution.
If you’re in the affected areas, stay weather aware—charge your devices, keep flashlights handy, and have a safe spot to shelter from wind and lightning.
This Severe Thunderstorm Watch is set to expire at 9 p.m., but additional warnings may be issued if storms intensify or linger into the night. Monitor alerts and avoid travel during peak thunderstorm activity.
