WESTPORT — A “Winter Storm Watch” remains in effect for southwestern Connecticut for Friday and Saturday, according to the 7 p.m. Thursday forecast from the National Weather Service.

While the earlier NWS warning of a severe nor’easter — battering the region with heavy snowfall and gusting winds Friday evening through Saturday night is largely unchanged — a few shifts in tonight’s forecast are being reported.

• Snow accumulation, predicted Thursday morning to potentially range from 6 to 12 inches, in the latest forecasts has been scaled back to 6 to 9 inches.

• Wind gusts, however, initially forecast to be up to 45 mph during the day-long storm, have been upped slightly to as high as 50 mph.

• The nor’easter is still expected to usher in very cold temperatures, with the Saturday high reading of just over 20 degrees.

• Several meteorological models indicate that the storm’s track remains somewhat uncertain, while shifts in direction early Friday could either lessen or intensify the impact on Westport and the rest of southwestern Connecticut.

Eversource: Preparing for “whatever the storm may bring”

Meanwhile, the power company Eversource on Thursday promised that it is “preparing for whatever the storm may bring.”

“The heavy snowfall and high winds expected late Friday night into Saturday can bring down trees or tree limbs onto electric lines and equipment causing power outages,” the Eversource statement said.

The company said it “is strategically pre-positioning equipment and line and tree crews across the state — including hundreds of additional out-of-state crews — so they’re ready to respond quickly and safely to any storm-related outages.”

To report a power outage or check on the status of one, go to this Eversource link, or call 800-286-2000.

Westport emergency information contacts

A list of emergency contact information for Westport, assembled by the local Emergency Management Team, can be found here.