Connecticut is bracing for a significant winter storm Tuesday, with up to a foot of snow predicted, depending on where you live. Here’s what residents need to know about projected snowfalls, road conditions, power outages, school closures and more.
Forecast
Connecticut will likely see 8 to 12 inches of snow scattered across the state, Ryan Hanrahan, the chief meteorologist of NBC Connecticut’s StormTracker team, said.
The first flakes will fall “just before daybreak on Tuesday,” Hanrahan said, adding that the heaviest snow conditions will last from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
He said temperatures will remain “around freezing for most of the storm” before dropping into the twenties Tuesday night.
Parts of the state could see gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, but Hanrahan said that overall, “it doesn’t look like the winds will be too bad” during the storm.
“The bigger concern may be along the shoreline where the snow will be wetter and heavier,” Hanrahan said. “That could lead to a couple of power outages.”
Hanrahan said the worst of the storm is expected to coincide with commuter’s morning drive, when snow falls could hit 1 to 2 inches per hour.
“The morning commute is going to be tough,” Hanrahan said. “The heaviest snow will be coming down right during the thick of the commute. So it’s going to be pretty nasty on the road.”
As for whether Connecticut students can expect a snow day, Hanrahan thinks “a lot of schools will close tomorrow.”
Hartford Public Schools made the announcement that the district’s schools would be closed before noon Monday.
“Kids who are excited for a snow day will be excited with the storm,” Hanrahan said.
Roads, transportation and travel
Josh Morgan, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said DOT is urging residents to stay off the roads Tuesday as the agency gears up for a “significant, statewide winter storm event.”
“We’re ready to go,” Morgan said. “We fully expect all of our trucks and drivers and contractors to respond to the storm, which is probably the most significant snow event … that we’ve had in a number of years.”
Morgan said DOT expects to deploy its fleet of more than 600 trucks to plow and salt state highways. He said the first crews are likely to head out around 11 p.m. and midnight tonight.
As Connecticut residents wake up Tuesday morning, Morgan said working from home or delaying daily commutes would be ideal.
“The fewer cars on the road, the quicker we can get through our plow route,” Morgan said. “We certainly understand, not everyone has that privilege to be able to work from home or delay travel. So, if people have to head out tomorrow, just make sure they’re planning ahead. … People need to give themselves some extra time and certainly give DOT trucks and municipal plow drivers plenty of space to clear those roads tomorrow.”
“It’s not going to be the same Tuesday commute that people are used to,” Morgan added. “It’s going to be pretty slick out there. Conditions aren’t gonna be ideal.”
As for public transit, Morgan said delays, route adjustments and cancellations are a possibility. He encouraged commuters to plan ahead and sign up for alerts from their transit providers.
“People can check CTtransit.com, CTrail.com and CTroads.com for bus, rail and road condition services,” Morgan said. “Those are three great resources for people to check out tonight and tomorrow to see if there’s any impact to their commute.”
Alisa Sisic of the Connecticut Airport Authority said travelers at Bradley International Airport may experience disruptions as a result of Tuesday’s storm.
“Bradley International Airport is open and is prepared for the upcoming snowstorm,” Sisic said in a statement emailed to the Courant. “We anticipate that some of our airline partners may delay or cancel some of their flights tomorrow, and it is strongly recommended that passengers contact their airline to confirm the status of their specific flight before heading to the airport.”
Power outages and heat
In a statement to the media Monday, Eversource said it is positioning additional line and tree crews across the state to “respond to any storm-related power outages or damage to the electric system.”
“The heavy, wet snow can weigh down tree limbs and branches, possibly bringing them down onto electric lines and equipment, causing damage and power outages,” Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Steve Sullivan said. “The hazardous conditions can also make travel challenging for our crews, so we’re staging extra staff and equipment across the state to ensure we’re ready to respond as quickly as possible wherever our crews are needed.”
“We’ve been closely monitoring this storm using several weather forecast models and are planning accordingly, making adjustments to our response as necessary,” Sullivan said.
Eversource urged residents to report any downed wires immediately to 911 and stay clear from the scene. The company said customers may report outages through its website, eversource.com, or its phone line, 800-286-2000. Additionally, Eversource said “Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.”
Eversource said power outages can also impact some natural gas heating systems. The company said gas meters and outdoor vents should be clear of snow and ice and that any buildup should be carefully removed by hand or with a broom. Eversource said kicking or clearing meters with a shovel can cause damage.
Eversource said Individuals who smell gas should “immediately leave their home or business … and call 911.”
Eversource said other preparedness resources are available on its website.
Municipal closures, parking bans
In Hartford, city officials said public schools and City Hall will close Tuesday and a parking ban will go into effect at 8 p.m. on Monday.
Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said Hartford is encouraging major city businesses to close during the storm. Additionally, Arulampalam said the warming shelter at 110 Washington St. will be open.
“We’re asking people to stay home, stay warm, stay inside if you can,” Arulampalam said.
Arulampalam said the parking ban will continue through Tuesday. The city has yet to determine when the ban will be lifted. Vehicles that fail to comply will be ticketed and towed.
“We need cars off the street so our Public Works team can keep them clear of snow tomorrow,” Arulampalam said. “Please get your cars into your driveway, or to a blue light lot, city lot, or school lot, and for your own safety, please stay off the streets as much as you can.”
Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez said the district and community partners are working together to decide what Hartford Public Schools will do on Wednesday after the storm has left.
“While (Tuesday’s closure) might pose some interruptions for our families, really collectively we are prioritizing safety,” Torres-Rodriguez said. “At this point, we’re going to continue to work collaboratively with all of our partners to determine what happens on Wednesday.”
As of 3 p.m. on Monday, several towns had announced parking bans, including Bloomfield, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Middletown, Newington and Rocky Hill.
