ALERTS:

The National Weather Service has issued the following for Connecticut.

A cold weather advisory is in effect now through 12 p.m. Saturday. Wind chills will feel like 5 to 15 degrees below zero.

A winter storm warning will be in effect from 3 a.m. Sunday through 6 p.m. Monday.

This storm is shaping up to be a significant one for the area Sunday into Monday. The extreme cold and the copious amount of moisture will bring some moderate to heavy snow to Western Connecticut. Snow totals still look to be around 12 to 18 inches as of Friday night. The lower range will be farther south and the higher range will be farther north.

Areas along the I-95 corridor will need to watch out for sleet mixing in late Sunday night into early Monday. Some forecast models bring a lot of warm air into the storm with such a far northerly track. This means the snow would get heavier and wetter and then change over to sleet. If this materializes early enough, snow totals may be slightly lower south, but if this happens later then the storm can achieve the 12 inches-plus snow range.

The exact track of the storm will dictate how and when the warmer air and mixing come into play. The snow totals are subject to change heading into the storm, so check back over the weekend for the latest on this evolving storm forecast.

A strong cold front will deliver a dangerously cold airmass for Friday night and Saturday. Temperatures could be record-breaking on Saturday with a high temperature that stays below 20 degrees. Wind chills could be as low as 5 to 15 degrees below zero Saturday morning. Wind chills all day long will feel more like the lower single digits.

When the snow arrives on Sunday, temperatures will be around 10 degrees, rising into the teens during the day and then the 20s at night. If sleet mixes in, it wouldn't be until after 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sunday and into the overnight hours. The sleet may also change back to snow early Monday and bring a light accumulation.

Be prepared for frigid days ahead and minimal melting, as temperatures will stay below freezing all next week.