Snow and Ice and Water Everywhere

As I write this, at 4:30 PM, we continue to get heavy rain across much of the state. Last night saw some 3 inches of snow fall in the Hartford area, followed by an extensive period of freezing rain, followed by a day of heavy rain that isn't over yet. The NWS says we've already had between 2 and 3 inches of rainfall today. Our rain gauge here on campus (which is not heated) has 1.60 inches of rain as of this moment, and there is still likely some snow and ice on the bucket which hasn't yet melted and flowed in.

Here in our building, on the Fifth floor, water is dripping through the ceilings from the roof above. Our copy/fax machine room is out of commission, as we've had to move both machines out of the way of dripping water. I won't be surprised to hear about some flat roofs in Connecticut giving way under the combined weight of all that snow, ice and rain.

On top of all that, temperatures tonight should drop below freezing, and that means a lot of puddles and ponded water is going to freeze up before morning. Should make for an adventurous morning commute tomorrow on many interior Connecticut roadways. Drive carefully, everyone.

Just one more thing. It looks like we're in for another heavy rain storm late Saturday and into Sunday. And this cold, stormy pattern shows no sign of letting up for at least the next week or so.

Don't Let the Sunshine Fool You

The sun is shining in Connecticut this morning, but gloom and doom dominate the forecast. And there's no need to overhype the storm that's on its way. Snow should break out across the state during the late afternoon hours, and, with plenty of cold air embedded in the lower atmosphere, it will take a while to change the snow over to an even messier mix of sleet and freezing rain overnight.

The evening rush won't be that bad, as there won't be that much snow on the ground yet, but tomorrow morning's commute will be tough for those of us not along the immediate shoreline. Freezing rain will persist for a while before temperatures finally push up above freezing, and a steady, often heavy rain falls tomorrow. With a few inches of snow, then ice, then rain, the possibility of urban and poor drainage flooding is very real.

And yet, that sunshine is still right there outside my window. I've never seen such changeable weather anywhere else, except maybe in those classic Warner Bros. cartoons. I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about.