So Where's the Snow? [UPDATED]

Updated 6:40 a.m., March 7:

The first flakes of snow are just starting to fall in western Greenwich.

Updated 5:25 a.m., March 7:

So far, the snowstorm predicted for the area seems to have been more of a wind event. However, forecasters say the snow is now expected to arrive in the region later Thursday morning and continue into Friday.  

As of 5 a.m., the roads remained dry with nary a drop of rain or a flake of snow. With the winds averaging about 24 mph with gusts of 35 mph, according to the University of Connecticut weather buoy in Long Island Sound just off Greenwich Harbor, trees and shrubs bowed in the wind gusts.

Connecticut Light & Power was reporting only five of the 27,933 customers in Greenwich were without power.

Most of the snow falling early Thursday was reported by WCBS radio to be east of I-91 in Connecticut and in Suffolk County on Long Island. Snow in Fairfield County is now expected to begin before 1 p.m., according to National Weather Service (NWS). About 2 to 5 inches of snow are expected.

Here is NWS latest forecast:

• Today: Snow likely before 1pm, then rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Tonight: Snow. Low around 31. Blustery, with a north wind 17 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Friday: Snow before 2pm, then a chance of rain. High near 40. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Friday Night: Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 30. North wind 11 to 16 mph.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 48. North wind around 9 mph.

Updated, 3:51 p.m., March 6:

Whether it’s two inches or seven inches of snow, Greenwich DPW and Parks and Recreation crews are ready to go.

That’s the word from Greenwich Emergency Management Director Dan Warzoha who added, “We’re pretty much in a wait-and-see mode…the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) is ready to go if needed.”

Warzoha said, "Highway is all geared up and good to go for a snow storm. If they need to go from pushing snow to pushing trees, they are all set to go."

There have been brief rain showers throughout the afternoon in Greenwich as winds of upwards of 22 mph—as recorded on the University of Connecticut weather buoy off Greenwich Harbor—continue to buffet the coastline. The highest wind gust so far Wednesday afternoon was measured at 27.7 mph, as of 3:44 p.m.

“Snow fall ranges are all over the place, from 2 to 7 inches,” Warzoha said. Inland and elevations of 500 feet or more can expect to see higher totals of the predicted heavy wet snow.

“I’m not very confident with the forecast we have.,” Warzoha said. “There is potential to have snow flying around here until noon Friday if it stalls off Cape Cod or Nantucket.”

Warzoha also said that  during an emergency management conference call Tuesday, Connecticut Light & Power said “they have 100 percent of their people on call and they have 167 outside tree and line crews positioned in state. And they were working on getting more crews today. They were clearly preparing for a wind and wet snow event.”

Concerning coastal flooding, Warzoha said,  “People have to realize that the actual topography and geography has changed quite a bit because of Sandy… we’re looking to see what the new normal is going to be.” He said officials are not expecting flooding to be a major issue along the town’s coastline.

Original story:

A nor'easter developing along the mid-Atlantic is forecast to hit our area Wednesday morning — exactly how bad it will be is still up in the air, though.

With the storm expected to intensify as it slowly tracks east, the National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties.

"Forecast uncertainty surrounds the exact details of how this storm will evolve," according to the weather service, "but the potential exists for...strong winds with gusts between 40 and 50 miles per hour."

As a result, a Coastal Flood Watch was also issued at 5:09 a.m. Monday, March 5, and will carry through 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 7, according to the National Weather Service. The watch affects southern Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties.

In addition, the service says, "While the current forecast keeps snowfall amounts between 1 and 3 inches...there is a chance for higher accumulations...mainly Wednesday night."

For a complete explanation of the storm track and its impact on the area, check WABC-Channel 7 meteorologist Bill Evans' forecast here.

When Will it Start Snowing in Greenwich?

According to the National Weather Service seven-day forecast for Greenwich, there will be a chance of rain and snow Wednesday through Friday, and strong gusts of winds during that time.

Snow accumulations of one to three inches are expected, according to the forecast.

Here's the forecast through Saturday:

• Today: Rain and snow, mainly after 3pm. High near 42. Breezy, with a northeast wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Tonight: Snow. Low around 31. Blustery, with a north wind 21 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Thursday: Snow likely, mainly before 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
• Thursday Night: Snow likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 29. Blustery, with a north wind 16 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Friday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. North wind 15 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Friday Night: A slight chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46.