High winds and heavy rain are expected in West Hartford beginning Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 11, 2024.

By Ronni Newton

In advance of a flood alert and wind advisory that will be in effect beginning the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, the Town of Wets Hartford is urging residents to take caution.

Many homes have holiday decorations on display in their yards, and residents “are urged to secure any outdoor holiday decorations that the wind could blow away,” the town said in an announcement Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory which begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and gusts of up to 50 mph are being forecast through 1 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12. Localized power outages are possible.

In an email Tuesday afternoon, Eversource said the energy company is monitoring weather forecasts and planning for possible outages by bringing in additional lineworkers and positioning crews and vehicles for quick response.

“The high winds expected with this storm have the potential to bring down trees and limbs onto electric lines and equipment causing outages and we’re planning accordingly,” President of Eversource Connecticut Steve Sullivan said in a statement. “We’ll have crews in position around the state with a heavy emphasis in the areas expecting the highest winds – so they’re ready to restore power as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Eversource urged customers to assemble or restock a storm kit “which should include essentials like flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable foods, any needed medications, pet food and other necessities. In addition, make sure cell phones and devices are fully charged, review or create an emergency plan with family members and prepare to check on elderly neighbors and friends.” Additional tips can be found online.

Downed wires should be avoided, and reported immediately to 9-1-1. Outages should be reported online at Eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. “Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen,” Eversource stated.

In addition to the strong winds, the approaching cold front will bring heavy rainfall and a flood watch has been issued for Hartford County, beginning at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11. According to the National Weather Service, 2 to 3 inches of rain are expected – the heaviest expected to fall Wednesday afternoon and evening – with some areas receiving up to 4 inches during the duration of the storm. The flood watch is in effect through Thursday morning.

“Please make sure leaves and leaf bags are not in the street,” the town’s announcement states. “Leaves can cover the top of catch basins and exacerbate flooding issues. If a catch basin near your home is covered with leaves, please remove them.”

Traveling during the height of the storm may be challenging and residents are urged to exercise caution.

The rain is expected to end on Thursday morning, with winds subsiding but gusts above 20 mph still possible.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.