CT to face ‘significant’ flooding, wind after snowstorm

Days after the first winter storm of the season dropped more than a foot on parts of northern Connecticut, the state is bracing for another round of tumultuous weather. This time, a storm is expected to lash the state with rain and gusty winds, as temperatures warm into the low 50s.

With 4 inches or more of rain expected late Tuesday into early Wednesday, officials are warning the rains coupled with melting snow could lead to flash flooding and major river flooding.

Flood watches have been issued across Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as much of New Jersey and lower New York.

“You’re going to have the combination of the rain melting the snow, which is going to cause interior flooding. So nobody will be immune to the flooding or at least the possibility,” said Gary Lessor, chief meteorologist at the Western Connecticut State University Weather Center.

Eversource, the state’s largest electricity provider, said “with tree branches weakened by the heavy snow storm, we’re gearing up and bringing in additional crews to help respond to another strong storm expected to bring powerful winds and rain on Tuesday.”

During a news conference Monday afternoon, Eversource Connecticut President Steve Sullivan said the company is “well-positioned to respond to this storm.”

Sullivan said 1,100 line and tree crews are scheduled to respond to the storm along with those who work at the emergency operations centers that help managing the field operators.

“They are a team of professionals that are really managing all of those crews,” he said. “Making sure that we are prioritizing the events correctly and efficiently dispatching those crews to take care of those events.”

Sullivan also encouraged residents to use caution if they see downed wires and prepare a “storm kit” in case the weather is severe. A storm kit should include necessities like medical prescriptions, water, flashlights, batteries, along with charging up mobile devices in advance, he said.

“I would ask our customers to understand we are out there working even if you don’t see us,” he said. “We can be restoring a circuit half a mile away from you and it’s gonna get your lights back on. But we have a very large workforce, (and) we are methodically working.”

The National Weather Service said the storm could produce 2 to 4 inches of rain, with “locally higher amounts possible” late Tuesday into Wednesday.

The agency warned of a “significant river flooding potential” with widespread minor to moderate river flooding Tuesday night into Wednesday possibly in the southern Connecticut basins.

The weather service said there is “potential for major flooding along a few rivers” if the high end of the rainfall forecast turns out to be true.

“Lingering flooding of rivers and streams” is also quite possible into Wednesday, the weather service said.

The storm is also expected to bring strong winds, with gusts of 40 to 50 mph or even higher.

“Gusts 50 to 60 mph are possible along the coast. Some locally higher gusts also possible,” the weather service said.

Storms like this one have become common in recent years with an El Niño climate pattern, according to Lessor.

“El Niño, you have a lot of coastal storms typically,” he said. “And depending on the track — inland you end up with rain, coastal like the last one, snow.”

After the midweek rain and wind, a third storm is expected to impact Connecticut Friday and Saturday, Lessor said.

“It’ll also be rain and potential strong gusty winds — probably not as gusty as (Tuesday) night — but still significant,” he added.