Freeze Watch Thursday Night; More Coastal Flooding Possible Thursday

The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood advisory for southern New Haven County from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

The timing of the advisory coincides with the second day of the astronomical high tide, also known as King Tide. also created some minor coastal flooding in Madison, but the impact was relatively small because the weather was calm when high tide hit around 10:42 a.m.

On Thursday, high tide in Madison will be around 11:32 a.m. and the National Weather Service (NWS) is forecasting north winds between 9 and 13 mph. The NWS says tidal departures could be .20 to .60 feet above astronomical tide Thursday morning.

Widespread minor coastal flooding possible

"Tide levels may approach minor coastal flooding thresholds Wednesday evening, but are expected to exceed these thresholds with the high tide cycle late Thursday morning," the NWS said. "Widespread minor coastal flooding is expected during the times of high tide late Thursday morning with water levels exceeding minor coastal flooding thresholds by a few tenths of a foot."

While southern Connecticut prepares for King Tide, northern Connecticut is bracing for what may be the first snowfall of the season Thursday, according to this report from ctnow.com.

Also, at 4 a.m. Thursday, NWS issued a freeze watch for southern New Haven, southern New London, and southern Middlesex counties, effective Thursday night and into early Friday morning.

Temperatures could drop into lower 30s Thursday night, early Friday

"Frost and freeze conditions are expected late tonight into early Friday morning," the NWS said. Temperatures could drop into the lower 30s for coastal Connecticut and southeast Connecticut.

"Freezing temperatures will likely kill crops and other sensitive vegetation if no measures are taken to protect them."

This article from the Observer-Dispatch explains how to protect your plants, along with another from Garden Harvest Supply. Buckets and cloth sheets are good. Plastic sheets, not so much.

Extended forecast

The extended forecast, updated at 5:30 a.m. Thursday, is as follows:

Thursday: Rain, mainly after 9am. High near 51. North wind between 5 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday night: Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 33. North wind between 7 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. North wind around 6 mph.

Saturday: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Northeast wind between 8 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 51.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 53.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

As always, for the latest forecasts, check with the National Weather Service website.