Newtown Public Works crews spent the majority of Saturday working to clear the town’s roads of a quick snowstorm that dropped approximately 6-8 inches of snow and a small amount of freezing rain on Newtown before the storm cleared by late morning. Now it looks like the same employees who spent up to 15 hours working on January 24 need to get ready for a second storm, and this one may be very serious. The National Weather Service this afternoon has upgraded a Winter Storm Watch that had included most of Fairfield County to a Blizzard Warning.

At 3:39 Sunday, January 25, the National Weather Service issued the warning for a “crippling and potentially historic blizzard to impact the area from late Monday into Tuesday.” The Blizzard Warning covers northern Fairfield County and most of Connecticut, as well as New York City and surrounding immediate suburbs, and Long Island. It will go into effect on Monday at 1 pm, and remain active until at least midnight Monday.

The warning may already be historic in its scope. It extends from the central New Jersey coast all the way to the Canadian border. 

The storm watch that had been effect this morning included predictions of 10-14 inches of snow, with the storm to begin in our area by early Monday afternoon.

The Blizzard Warning ups that ante by quite a bit, with portions of the state about to be buried by more than two feet of snow, the NWS is reporting. Newtown and the area covered by this Blizzard Warning can expect up to 30 inches of snow.

Heavy snow and blowing show, “with blizzard conditions … [and] snow accumulation of 20 to 30 inches,” is mentioned in the warning. Snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour are possible late Monday night into Tuesday morning.

Light snow is expected to arrive in the area by Monday morning, with 1-3 inches possible by the evening rush.

Snow will pick up in intensity Monday evening, according to NWS, with the heaviest snow and strongest winds from about midnight Monday into Tuesday afternoon.

“Life-threatening conditions and extremely dangerous travel due to heavy snowfall and strong winds with whiteout conditions” are possible, the warning states. “Secondary and tertiary roads may become impassable. Strong winds may down power lines and tree limbs.”

As of 5 pm Sunday, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy had not yet issued any travel advisories, but NWS is already suggesting that drivers get off and stay off the roads by Monday afternoon.

“All unnecessary travel is discouraged … to allow people already on the road to safely reach their destinations before the heavy show begins, and to allow snow removal equipment to begin to clear roads,” NWS’s Blizzard Warning concludes.

Newtown Public Works and Highway Department crews went in to work around 2 am Saturday, at the opening end of this weekend’s snow storm. Most crews were able to head home by 2 pm.

With temperatures dropping by nightfall, however, a second round of work was needed. Everything that had been wet at sundown froze over. Town trucks were back on the road, sanding everything from, 9 pm until about midnight.

Communications Director: “Tomorrow Is The Day To Get Ready”

Maureen Will, the town director of communications, said on Sunday she and others are taking the NWS Blizzard Warning seriously.

“I’m making sure I have enough staff” for the town’s dispatch center, she said.

Ms Will is encouraging all residents to make sure they are signed up for CodeRED, an emergency notification network; and Smart 911, an online safety profile that residents can fill out in advance that provides information to dispatchers. Both programs are free, and both can be signed up for through the town’s website: CodeRED can be signed up for here.Smart 911 here, and

“People can sign up for these programs and be covered for this storm,” Ms Will said. “As soon as new profiles come in, the system is updated.”

Ms Will is also encouraging residents to listen to their radios and watch TV for storm updates.

“Be prepared for the worst, just in case. You want to be able to shelter in place for three to five days at any given time,” she said.

“Make sure your oil tank is full, and fill your vehicle’s gas tank,” she said. “Tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is the day to get stuff done.

“Keep an eye on your neighbors,” she said. “We know how to do this. We live in New England.”

Governor: Be Prepared

While Gov Malloy has not yet issued any travel advisories, he did at 4:30 Sunday ask that all state residents to be prepared and take necessary precautions for the approaching storm.

“Although storms can be unpredictable, this storm has the potential to have a significant impact on the state and we need to be prepared,” Gov Malloy said Sunday afternoon. “Just as the state is monitoring and preparing, the public should do the same.”

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Commissioner Dora B. Schriro said on Sunday that the state’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) is monitoring the storm “very closely.”

The department, she added, “is prepared to coordinate any potential state response.”

DEMHS is also participating in National Weather Service conference calls to get the latest information on the storms track and is sending out regular updates to all municipalities and tribal nations, according to the governor’s office.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation will have its entire fleet of snow plows, including 12 loader-mounted snow blowers, prepared to deploy, according to Gov Malloy. The residual road treatment from the Saturday’s weekend storm will help in the efforts to pretreat the roads, he said.

Gov Malloy will be providing the state with additional updates as conditions warrant.

CL&P Prepping, Pre-Staging

Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P), the state’s largest utility company, said via press release on Sunday that the company “is preparing to address any storm related power outages.”

Customers should prepare, however, “for prolonged outages that may result from the storm,” the release continued.

“The company is pre-staging employees and materials in locations across the state, and is preparing vehicles for safe travel on slippery roads and in poor weather conditions,” the released said. “In addition to CL&P’s approximately 400 line workers, the company has also secured outside crews in advance of the storm.”

CL&P customers can report power outages by calling 800-286-2000 or through the mobile website m.cl-p.com.

The company reminds everyone to prepare for any severe weather by assembling or restocking a storm kit and making arrangements to look out for families, friends and neighbors.

The public should also, the utility stated, stay at least 10 feet away from any downed power lines and immediately call 911 to report them.

Also, any customer using a generator should make sure it has been installed properly, both for their safety and the safety of line workers restoring power.

“Make sure generators don’t have any snow around the exhaust fan,” said Maureen Will. “That’s were we get a lot of calls for [carbon monoxide] problems.”

Change Of Plans? Contact The Bee

Readers, groups and individuals with events that will be affected due to the weather are encouraged to contact Bee Associate Editor Shannon Hicks with this informationm, which will be posted on The Bee’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. Call 203-426-3141 before 3 pm Monday or send email to thenewtownbee@gmail.com at any hour.

If you call the office once the storm if underway and the call goes to voicemail, please send an email. Messages left on the office answering machine at that point may not be checked until after the storm.

Owners of businesses that will be opening late or closing early are also welcome to contact Ms Hicks, who will also help get that word out