Due to the winter storm and its accompanying snow across the region, The Newtown Bee has heard from some businesses and locations that are going to be closed today, Monday, February 1.

Newtown Public Schools announced yesterday that today would be a snow day. There is no remote learning today, and the district’s Central Office will be closed for the day.

Newtown Municipal Center is closed for the day. First Selectman Dan Rosenthal also made that announcement yesterday. The first selectman noted that those who were planning to make their second round property tax payments on Monday — the deadline for such payments — may do so on Tuesday without penalty.

Newtown Community Center is closed for the day.

C.H. Booth Library is closed for the day.

All local Union Savings Bank branches are closed, according to Director of Community Relations Michele Bonvicini. The Customer Service Center will be open until 5 pm, however.

NYA Sports & Fitness Center is closed for the day.

The Editorial staff of The Newtown Bee is working remotely today. Editors and reporters can be reached via e-mail. Weather related closings should be send to shannon@thebee.com.

Road Notes

Newtown residents are reminded of two local ordinances that are called upon during winter weather events.

Creating snow berms — snow pushed out from walkways and driveways and then left in the road — is prohibited by one ordinance. Homeowners are responsible, whether they or a contractor push the snow into the road and leave it there.

A town ordinance prohibits this practice. Doing so may result in a fine.

If that snow freezes, it could cause an accident. In such a case, the homeowner could be held liable.

The second ordinance concerns on-street parking. While officials have told The Newtown Bee that they understand on-street parking is sometimes a necessity, the only way Public Works crews can plow is if cars are moved.

For that reason, a town ordinance prohibits the parking of vehicles on town and state roads from sunset to sunrise, between November 15 and March 15. Vehicles can be towed at the expense of their owner if they are found parked along roads during this time of the year.

Governor Ned Lamont on Sunday announced that he had signed an order implementing a travel ban on certain tractor trailers due to the severe winter storm.

As of 5 am Monday, the order bans all empty and tandem tractor trailers from traveling on I-84, I-91, and I-95; and all tractor trailers from traveling on I-84.

The order was being done in collaboration with neighboring states that are implementing similar travel restrictions during the storm.

The order excludes those providing emergency supplies necessary for response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccines, testing supplies, and medications.

It will remain in effect until further notice.

The Weather Ahead

The National Weather Service (NWS) is saying a major Nor'Easter will slowly shift north just off the East Coast Monday through Tuesday. Widespread heavy snow of one to two feet is forecast from Pennsylvania into New England including Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston through Tuesday. Snowfall rates may reach 2 inches per hour.

A regional Winter Storm Warning that includes Newtown remains in effect until 2 am Tuesday, February 2. Snow could be heavy at times, with temperatures remaining below the freezing mark, reaching a high of only 28 degrees.

Daytime wind chill values will be between 5-10 miles per hour. Northeast winds will be blustery, at 18-22 mps, with gusts as high as 37 mph, the weather service was saying Monday morning.

Total daytime snow accumulation of 10-14 inches is possible, also according to NWS.

Snow will continue until 10 pm, before freezing drizzle mixes in. Lows of 28 are expected for the overnight, and wind chill values will be between 10-15 degrees.

It will be windy, with a northeast wind of 20-26 mph overnight, with gusts as high as 40 mph. While no ice accumulation is expected overnight, local residents can see another 1-3 inches during the Monday-Tuesday overnight.

Snow is likely Tuesday morning, with cloudy skies and high temperatures of about 30 degrees. Wind chill values will be between 15 and 20 degrees. Winds will be lesser on Tuesday, topping at 17 mph and gusts as high as 28 mph — still very cold, but less so than on Monday.

New snow accumulation on Tuesday is expected to be less than half an inch.