Storm may cause flooding in state

A cold front was expected to move into Connecticut late Thursday night, bringing strong winds and heavy rain with possible thunderstorms, the National Weather Service said.

The rain around high tide Thursday evening could produce flooding for areas along the coast.

Wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph were forecast, with the possibility of reaching up to 50 mph for parts of the coast, the weather service said.

Areas along the immediate shoreline in Connecticut, including Bridgeport, New Haven and New London, were expected to see a little over an inch of rain between Thursday afternoon and today.

The weather service has issued a coastal flood advisory for areas along Connecticut’s shoreline.

The rain could produce “minor flooding in the more vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline,” the advisory said.

“Some roads and low-lying properties, including parking lots, parks, lawns and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding,” the advisory said.

The flood advisory was in effect during the overnight hours until 5 a.m. today. That coincides with high tide, which in Bridgeport peaked at 2:22 a.m. today.

Today will bring showers and possibly thunderstorms in the morning, followed by just showers as the day goes on. The day will be breezy, with highs in the upper 50s to low 60s again.

“Additional rain showers are expected again on Friday, especially in the morning hours,” the weather service said in a bulletin for northwestern Connecticut. “The combination of rain and snowmelt from the high terrain may result in some additional minor flooding, especially of urban, low-lying, or other flood-prone areas. Rises on area rivers is likely, although most main stem rivers should stay within their banks.”

Saturday will be cooler with highs in the 40s and 50s. The day will be mostly cloudy and breezy, with a slight chance of showers. In the northwest, the weather service warned the winds could be damaging.

“Behind the departing storm, westerly winds will be gusty on Saturday, with some gusts over 40 mph possible,” the agency said. “Some downed tree limbs are possible.”

Sunday should see the sun return, with mostly to partly sunny skies and highs in the upper 50s to low 60s.