UPDATE: Prediction: Heavier Snowfall Later in Day

By David Gurliacci

Update 2:04 p.m.:

Ryan Hanrahan, a meteorologist with a Hartford television station, has tweeted that more snow, heavier than the current light snow, should be coming down in midafternoon:

"Heavier band of snow on CT/NY border swings through next 2 hours. Up to 1" additional snow," Hanrahan tweeted at 1:46 p.m.

The National Weather Service, meanwhile, still says (as of its 12:56 p.m. update) a total of 3 to 5 inches for Darien is "possible," mainly before 5 p.m.

So right now might be a nice lull to go out for a quick ride if you need something.

Update 12:48 p.m.:

"Up to" 3 to 5 inches predicted. At this point, with hardly anything falling, it's 1 to 2 inches among the measured spots in Fairfield County, according to the National Weather Service (these are unofficial observations, the weather service notes).

Update 12:30 p.m.:

Bruce Museum in Greenwich is closed today due to the bad weather.

Update 12:26 p.m.:

Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk, just off of Exit 14 in Norwalk, is open until 5 p.m. today.

Update 12:22 p.m.:

The Darien Arts Center classes won't take place today, it announced on its Facebook page: "All Darien Arts Center group classes have been cancelled today, December 10, 2013, due to the closing of the Darien Public Schools. If you are scheduled to have a private music lesson, please contact the office at 203-655-8683. Make up classes will be determined on a class by class basis. Information will be available from your teacher."

Update 12:19 p.m.:

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk is open until 5 p.m. today.

Update 12:15 p.m.:

Blue Wave Basketball Coach Marian tweets: "No practice today for all levels. JV/Varsity early tomorrow."

Update 12:03 p.m.:

Darien Nature Center is closed, as it always is when Darien Public Schools close for bad weather.

Update 11:41 a.m.:

The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles has announced in a news release that it is "CANCELING ALL ROAD SKILLS TESTS for the remainder of the day due to the winter storm.  The restart has been delayed until 7:45 a.m. Wednesday (tomorrow) to ensure safe road conditions. Anyone with a scheduled road test can call DMV to choose a new date. The numbers to call are 860-263-5700 if someone is within the Hartford area and toll-free 800-842-8222 for those outside the Hartford area. DMV is also attempting to contact customers with road test appointments to advise them of the schedule change."

Update 11:23 a.m.:

The Darien Community Association is closed today due to the snow. A painting class scheduled for 12:45 p.m. is cancelled, the DCA has announced.

Update 11:18 a.m.:

The first substantial snow of the season for Darien brings with it slushy roads, pretty trees, the sound of plows and snow blowers in some spots.

As the wet snow begins to melt off the trees this morning, parents may want to suggest the movie "Happy Feet" to rambunctious kids of a certain age. It's playing at 1 p.m. at Darien Library.

If you've got nice pictures of the snow, post them to this page or to our Town Square announcements section and share them with the rest of us!

Original article:

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory —effective from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Dec. 10 — with up to 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.

And several schools — including schools in Darien  — have cancelled classes for today. 

The advisory is for southern Connecticut and the Hudson Valley region where snow is expected to begin falling towards the end of the morning rush hour and continue into the afternoon, according to the weather service. Heavy bands of snow could reduce visibility to about a half-mile.

The snow is expected to taper off during the afternoon rush hour, according to the advisory.

Also, the weather service has issued a black ice advisory for Tuesday morning. The combination of abundant low level moisture and temperatures dropping below freezing across the region early this morning will result in the formation of black ice on untreated surfaces, creating hazardous conditions on bridges and overpasses.

Here's the National Weather Service's Darien-specific forecast through Sunday:

• Tuesday: Snow, mainly before 3pm. High near 33. West wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
• Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 18. West wind 10 to 15 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. West wind 11 to 14 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind 7 to 10 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. West wind 8 to 13 mph.
• Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.
• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 31.
• Friday night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.
• Saturday: Rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Saturday night: Rain or freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 39.
• Sunday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.