UPDATED: Brunt of winter storm expected overnight Thursday

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Friday.

The worst of the storm will occur Thursday night into Friday, and by the time it is over, New London County residents could have 5 to 10 inches of snow on the ground, according to Gary Lessor, a meteorologist with the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University.

The storm will bring 2 to 4 inches of snow overnight Wednesday, Lessor said. The storm will let up during the day Thursday, with light snow mixed with rain from mid to late morning, he said.

"Another round of snow is coming in tomorrow night, and that's when we'll see the most accumulation," he said, predicting 3 to 7 inches more.

Wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph are expected Thursday, especially during the morning hours. Gusts of 40 to 45 are expected for Thursday afternoon into Friday.

Lessor said there would be fair skies and warmer air for the weekend, and that temperatures would be in the 50s by early next week.