Shoreline residents see heavy rain, wind from storm

MILFORD, CT (WFSB) - What shoreline cities and towns like Milford lacked in snow they made up with rain and intense winds.

While Winter Storm Brenda failed to make a major impact in the region, the wind whipped and made it chilly.

That left some disappointed. For others, it was a welcomed relief.

Stopping in Milford for his lunch break, Federico Valera, a truck driver, said he’ll take these wet roads over snow packed, white roads, any day.

“84 it was very slippery, everyone has to go slowly, right now it’s much better,” said Valera, of Rhode Island.

While Winter Storm Brenda brought a lot of snow for some in our state, along the shoreline the snow that did fall didn’t stick.

“I’m happy about snow, I always want it every year, like the fun of it, not too much this year, but I like it,” said LJ Wade, Platt Tech senior.

With wet snow falling, students at Platt Technical High School in Milford headed home late Tuesday morning.

Buses and parents picked up kids for an early dismissal, though plenty of them had their sights set on a sleeping in.

“I was hoping for a delay or maybe a snow day, not sure, I didn’t know it was going to be like this. I’m glad I’m getting out of school early,” said Azack Thompson, Platt Tech senior.

In Milford, there were no major issues, other than some minor flooding that came early Tuesday morning with high tide in the typical low-lying areas.

Along I-95 the roads remained mainly wet, though the Department of Transportation was reminding drivers to be careful of potential slick spots.

As for Valera, heading up the shoreline towards Rhode Island when you make your living driving, you’re ok with the lack of snow.

“I hope we only have rain, no snow at all, you know because when I get home, then I have to shovel and clean everything, my driveway, hahaha. You know what I’m saying? It’s not easy buddy,” Valera said.

On Tuesday morning, a Channel 3 crew in Milford reported heavy rain and wind.

While higher elevations prepared for significant snow, the shoreline geared up for those conditions.

The combination of these weather elements could cause issues such as power outages and flooding during high tide.

Patty Orsini from Milford said she knows the drill for her East Broadway neighborhood, whenever weather could be an issue.

“The first thing we do is we take the cars out of here to higher ground,” Orsini said. “This way if you do get maybe a couple of inches, a foot, you’re still in good shape.”

That is why the City of Milford asked those who live in flood prone areas to be prepared.

High tide was set for 9:14 a.m. on Tuesday. That’s when residents said they’ll be keeping an eye out for potential coastal flooding.

Milford also posted a Facebook message that reminded those along the shoreline to remain vigilant and take precautions.

“It’s good to get those warnings, those text messages,” said Carmen Fletcher, Milford.

“We move the cars, if it’s going to be a wind event, we’ll take the stuff off the back deck and take that stuff away, our neighbors on both sides are really good about telling us, ‘hey, move that stuff off your deck,’” said Paul Fletcher, Milford.

“We have been pretty lucky though to be quite honest with you, hasn’t been too bad this year, could be worse,” Orsini added.

New Haven’s director of emergency management, Rick Fontana, said he also prepared for Tuesday’s weather.

Fontana urged people to be aware of potential flooding along the shoreline in the Elm City.

“At high tides, we expect there to be 1-2 feet above normal flooding, against high tide that will create some issues for us in the areas of frequent flooding. We’ll have signage up, we’ll have barricades up. Don’t drive through any flooded waters,” Fontana said.

Old Saybrook was another community that could see some flooding Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Bring your car to a spot where it’s not going to flood. If you brought out that outdoor furniture already because the weather’s been nice, time to bring all that in so the wind’s not blowing that around,” said Old Saybrook police Chief Michael Spera.

The wind and rain could cause significant power outages along the shoreline, so crews at United Illuminating and Eversource said they prepared.

“Trees can come down with the wind and the rain might loosen soil, that’s sort of thing can happen. That’s what we’re preparing for more than the weight of snow on power lines taking it down, so it’s different preparations,” said Bob Brown from United Illuminating.

Read the full forecast in Channel 3′s technical discussion here.

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