Greenwich Weather: Rain, Coastal Flood Warning, Wind Watch [UPDATE]

Updated: 4:55 p.m., Dec. 26:

The snow that began about 3 p.m. is turning to sleet, creating hazardous driving conditions.

According to Greenwich Police and Fire department scanner reports, numerous accidents throughout town—from Hamilton Avenue in Chickahominy to Havemeyer Lane in Old Greenwich. One fire department engine crew reported it is out of service on South Smith Street until a public works crew sands that road.

Exercise caution—better yet, if you don't have to travel, don't. Let emergency and public works crews do their work without extra congestion and the folly of  motorists sliding in the way.

Emergency crews also are heading to the DPW's Fleet Department on Indian Field Road to have chains installed on their vehicles.

Original story:

Mother Nature's going to be playing with her winter toys today, with the National Weather Service forecasting rain, snow and sleet, mainly after 4 p.m., along with a Coastal Flood Watch and a Wind Watch.

So don't dawdle at those after-Christmas sales this afternoon. The good news is that, while you should have your snow shovel and salt ready (just in case!), it looks like any snow will be washed away by the rain. Quite a bit of rain, as a matter of fact.

Flooding, too

For those of you in low-lying areas along the shore, the weather service has upped its "Coastal Flood Watch," issued earlier, to a more serious "Coastal Flood Warning" from 8 p.m. to midnight, when the tide is highest. The warning is for western Long Island Sound, including Greenwich.

Tides should be 3 to 5 feet above normal and affect "vulnerable shore roads and/or basements."

Wind and gusts

For the New York metropolitan area, Long Island and coastal Connecticut, including Greenwich, the weather service's "High Wind Warning" is in effect from 4 p.m. this afternoon through 6 a.m. Thursday.

Forecasters say there could be winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts of up to 60 mph.

"Winds of this magnitude will likely down trees and tree limbs, power lines and holiday decorations and cause minor property damage," according to the wind-warning forecast. "Power outages are possible. Driving high profile vehicles will be difficult, especially on elevated roadways and bridges.

Greenwich weather forecast

Here's what the National Weather Service predicts in its specific forecast for Greenwich:

The high temperature Wednesday should be a chilly 33, with breezy winds of 11 to 16 mph rising to 19-24 mph in the afternoon and winds gusting to as high as 36. The chance of precipitation is 100%, but the snow and sleet combination is less than half an inch.

Wednesday night the rain could be heavy and the temperature should dip to 35 degrees—not far from freezing (keep that in mind if it turns out to be colder than the forecast). We might get as much as 1 to 2 inches of rain.

Do you really want to be out in that weather tonight?

Here's the weather service for the rest of the week and the weekend:

• Thursday: Rain, mainly before noon. High near 45. East wind 15 to 18 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: A slight chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 30. Northwest wind 15 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.
• Saturday: A slight chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday: A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

So if you're in the mood for a movie, here's what's on the big screens in Greenwich and Port Chester, NY:

Bow Tie Criterion Cinemas at Greenwich Plaza
Showtimes for Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Les Miserables (PG-13)
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe
157 minutes
Trailer (11:00 AM), (2:30), 6:30, 10:00
Digital; DLP-Digital Projection
Hyde Park on Hudson (R)
Bill Murray, Laura Linney
94 minutes
Trailer (12:00), (2:15), (4:45), 7:15, 9:40
Digital; DLP-Digital Projection
Silver Linings Playbook (R)
Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper
120 minutes
Trailer (11:15 AM), (2:00), (4:30), 7:00, 9:30
Digital • DLP-Digital Projection

 

 

AMC Loews Port Chester 14

 

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