Winter Storm — Northern Fairfield, Connecticut

2019-01-19 to 2019-01-20 · Northern Fairfield, Connecticut

Event narrative

Trained spotters, CoCoRaHS, and broadcast media reported 3 to 5 inches of snow. The Danbury Airport ASOS reported 0.37 inches of ice accretion. The combination of snow accumulation and ice accretion led to significant impacts across northern Fairfield county. Broadcast media reported multiple road closures in Newtown due to trees and wires down from ice accretion.

Wider weather episode

Deepening low pressure tracking from the southeast United States on Saturday January 19, 2019 to the northeast on Sunday January 20, 2019. An arctic air mass was located across New England as the storm system approached the region. A warm front associated with the low moved north along the coast early on the morning of January 20 changing snow to sleet and then liquid precipitation. The warmer air battled the arctic air advecting into interior southern Connecticut. However, temperatures remained below freezing through much of the winter storm across creating a significant ice accretion on top of snow accumulation. Many roads were closed due to downed trees and power lines. Several towns were without power for about 24 hours. The Middletown police reported a subcontractor for Eversource was killed by a falling tree on Millbrook Road in Middletown. One injury also occurred in Bethany due to a falling tree limb.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 795330. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.