By Shannon Hicks

As of midday Monday, predictions were all over the place, but it seems certain that a Nor’easter developing along the northeast coast of the country will impact local travel tonight and tomorrow.

The National Weather Service (NWS) says southwestern Connecticut and the state's coastline should prepare for heavy rain to snow, beginning with heavy rain tonight, rain changing to snow tomorrow, and then snow tapering off tomorrow night. Light to moderate snow accumulation is possible, according to a Monday morning NWS briefing.

That heavy rainfall will likely create areas of minor urban and small stream flooding. Then, subsequent expected snowfall could be as light as 3 inches for the Danbury-Newtown area or as high as 10 inches, depending on how quickly low pressure intensifies and how close the system moves toward the coast, according to the weather service.

Much of Fairfield County is currently under a Winter Weather Advisory. Litchfield, Windham and Tolland counties — all northern Connecticut — are under Winter Storm Warnings, with Hartford County under a Winter Storm Watch.

Snow amounts could reach the higher levels, also according to the weather service, if low pressure intensified quicker than forecast, transitions rain to snow earlier than forecast, and/or lingering heavy show bands over the region for a longer period of time.

Wind gusts are also probable with the storm, primarily Tuesday and Wednesday. At 5 am Monday, the weather service said the interior of Connecticut could see west-northwest winds of 20-25 mph with gusts of 30-40 mph Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday. Impacts will include scattered to numerous downed tree limbs and power lines due to snow load and winds.

Newtown Public Schools have not yet announced any postponements or cancellations ahead of tomorrow. The Newtown Bee will share any of those announcements via social media upon receipt of that information (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, all at @TheNewtownBee).

Tonight's high school girls' basketball state semifinal between Newtown and Fairfield Ludlowe has been moved to an earlier start time of 6 pm due to expected snow, however. The game will take place at neutral site Trumbull High as planned.

Readers are invited to share events cancellations or postponements, and early and/or late business closings as comments on our social media pages, or be emailing information to shannon@thebee.com.

Eversource, Red Cross Reminders

Ahead of the nor’easter, Eversource issued a press release stating the utility “is closely monitoring the weather forecast and is ready for the heavy, wet snow and strong winds that are expected to impact Connecticut.

“The energy company is prepositioning equipment and line and tree crews at its work centers around the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by this storm. Eversource also brought in additional out-of-state crews to assist with restoring power to customers, if needed,” the statement continued.

Eversource President of Connecticut Electric Operations Steve Sullivan said the company has been monitoring the storm since last week “using several weather services and continue to closely watch its path and will adjust our plan as needed.

“The heavy, wet snow and hazardous winds forecasted have the potential to bring down trees and branches onto electric lines and equipment, causing damage and power outages,” Sullivan added. “The hazardous conditions can also make travel challenging for our crews, so we’re staging extra staff and equipment in our work centers across the state to ensure we’re ready to respond as quickly as possible to whatever this storm brings.”

Eversource urges customers to always stay clear of downed wires, report them immediately to 911, and report any outage online at eversource.com or by calling 800-286-2000.

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.

The company also offers a Storm Safety Checklist to help readers prepare before a storm, stay safe during weather events, and remain alert after such events have passed. The checklist is available as one of the photos with this story, and can be downloaded from Eversource’s website.

Similarly, the American Red Cross issued reminders ahead of the approaching storm:

Winter Driving Safety...

Stay off the road if possible during dangerous weather. For those who you must drive in winter weather, follow these tips:

*Keep on your vehicle: a windshield scraper and small broom, a small sack of sand for generating traction under wheels and a set of tire chains or traction mats, matches in a waterproof container, and a brightly colored (preferably red) cloth to tie to the antenna, and an emergency supply kit including warm clothing.

*Keep your vehicle’s gas tank full to keep the fuel line from freezing.

*Make sure everyone has their seat belts on and give your full attention to the road.

*Don’t follow other vehicles too closely. Sudden stops are difficult on snowy roadways.

*Don’t use cruise control when driving in winter weather.

*Don’t pass snowplows.

*Ramps, bridges and overpasses freeze before roadways.

*If you become stranded:

Stay in the vehicle and wait for help. Do not leave the vehicle to search for assistance unless help is visible within 100 yards (91 meters). You can quickly become disoriented and confused in blowing snow.

Display a trouble sign to indicate you need help. Hang a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) on the radio antenna and raise the hood after snow stops falling.

Run the engine occasionally to keep warm. Turn on the engine for about 10 minutes each hour (or five minutes every half hour). Running the engine for only short periods reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and conserves fuel. Use the heater while the engine is running. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and slightly open a downwind window for ventilation.

Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running so that you can be seen.

Power Outage Safety...

*Use flashlights in the dark, not candles.

*Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Traffic lights will be out and roads will likely be congested.

*Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment and appliances. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment.

*Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.

*Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Keep these devices outside away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

*During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first, then, food from the freezer. If the power outage continues beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot, and cover it at all times.

Winter Weather Safety...

*Caulk and weather-strip doors and windowsills to keep cold air out. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic from the inside to provide an extra layer of insulation to keep cold air out.

*Make sure there is sufficient heating fuel on hand.

*Stay indoors and wear warm clothes. Layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing will keep a person warmer than a bulky sweater. If you feel too warm, remove layers to avoid sweating; if you feel chilled, add layers.

*Check on relatives, neighbors, and friends, particularly if they are elderly or if they live alone.

*Protect pipes from freezing.

*Whenever possible, bring pets inside during cold winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas and make sure they have access to non-frozen drinking water. If the animals are outside, make sure their access to food and water is not blocked by snow drifts, ice or other obstacles.

*Wear layered clothing, mittens or gloves, and a hat.

*Cover your mouth to protect lungs from severely cold air.

*Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.

*Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses much of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly away from the body.

*Stretch before going outdoors. A few stretching exercises to warm up the body before heading outdoors to shovel snow will reduce chances of muscle injury.

*Avoid overexertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a vehicle, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.

*Walk carefully on snowy, icy sidewalks. Slips and falls occur frequently in winter weather, resulting in painful and sometimes disabling injuries.

*For those who must go out during a winter storm, use public transportation if possible. About 70 percent of winter deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles.

The Red Cross app Emergency can help keep readers safe with real-time alerts, shelter locations, and safety advice. The Red Cross First Aid App provides instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies. Both can be downloaded for free by searching for ‘American Red Cross’ in your app store or at redcross.org/apps.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.