Update 4:49 p.m.:

The latest Darien-specific forecast from the National Weather Service (at 3:28 p.m.) says there's a "chance of rain and snow before 1 a.m., then snow" overnight. Less than an inch is expected.

The latest prediction thinks the snow (or some of it) may be coming a bit later on Saturday afternoon—it may be falling as late as 4 p.m., but only about an inch is expected. The weather service says the chance of snow is 90 percent.

There's a 30 percent chance we'll get more snow Saturday night, and it could be windier, with winds between 13 and 20 mph from the north expected, and gusts may reach as high as 34 mph.

Original article, 1:53 p.m.:

Get out the snow shovel and the salt—it really is winter.

The National Weather Service's specific Darien forecast (as of 12:33 p.m. Friday) is predicting rain or snow before 10 p.m., with the temperature getting down to 32 degrees and an 80 percent chance of precipitation overnight. Winds from the north should range between 6 and 9 mph.

Saturday morning should see continued snow (chance of precipitation at 90 percent) and a north wind of 7 to 16 mph. The high temperature for the day is expected to be 37 degrees. (Let the melting begin!)

For Saturday night, Sunday and Sunday night the forecast (as of 12:33 p.m. Friday) has a 20 percent chance of light snow in each of those periods.

Spring begins on March 20.

At 1:14 a.m.

That's 39 days from today.

Editor's note: This article originally was posted Friday afternoon. The time stamp has been changed for layout purposes on the Home page of Darien Patch.