HARTFORD — For the first time this season, Governor Ned Lamont has directed Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol to be activated.

This comes ahead of an approaching winter storm that has the entire state under a National Weather Service Winter Storm Warning. The Town of Newtown Public Works crew is ready, according to its general supervisor.

Wednesday afternoon, Gov Lamont directed the severe cold weather protocol — which sets up a system for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 211 and the state’s network of shelters, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations are protected from the severe conditions — be activated at 3 pm Wednesday, December 16. The activation will be in effect until noon Friday, December 18. The storm is expected to arrive this evening.

Town of Newtown officials issued a similar statement Wednesday afternoon, saying in part that "If significant outages occur from the snowstorm’s impact, the Town will be making provisions for charging, warming and accommodating community need and that will be communicated as needed."

At the state level, United Way 211 operates as the point of contact for individuals who need shelter and transportation to shelters. Anyone in need of shelter is urged to call 211 to get connected to these services.

Protocols have been enacted at shelters throughout the state to adhere to the necessary COVID-19 safety measures. Being outdoors in extreme cold conditions for extended periods is not safe, the governor reminded residents Wednesday morning.

While activated, the protocol enacts the following actions:

*The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, which is an internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 211 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 211 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.

*The Department of Social Services, Department of Housing, and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services coordinate with 211 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, along with community-based providers, to provide transportation for people seeking shelter.

Earlier Wednesday, Lamont announced the State Emergency Operations Center, which is already activated in a virtual capacity for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will remain activated to monitor and respond to conditions resulting from the significant winter storm that is forecast to impact Connecticut beginning Wednesday night and continuing into Thursday.

The governor is already urging people in Connecticut to avoid all unnecessary travel during the storm, as significant amounts of snowfall are anticipated to cause slick conditions on the roads. The current forecast is calling for parts of Connecticut to receive accumulations of more than a foot of snow and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour along the coast.

Local Preparations Underway

The entire state is under a Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service. The warning went into effect at 2 pm Wednesday. It is in effect until 1 pm Thursday, December 17.

Heavy snow and high winds are both expected, with general snow accumulation of 12-16 inches and wind gusts as high as 40-45 mph both predicted across the state.

Travel could be very difficult to impossible, the warning notes. The hazardous conditions could impact this evening’s commute, as well as tomorrow morning’s commute.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the weather service is calling for the approaching evening to be filled with snow, “to be heavy at times. Low around 22. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a northeast wind reaching 16 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.”

Snow should be ending by noon Thursday, also according to NWS. Thursday afternoon will be “cloudy, gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a steady temperature around 26. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Blustery, with a north wind 11 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.”

That is the final mention of snow in the forecast, through Tuesday. Temperatures will remain seasonal once the storm passes, ranging from 32 to 40s during the days, and very cold for the next few overnights.

Newtown Public Works crews are ready, says the department’s general supervisor.

“Newtown is 60 square miles and we have 280 miles of road to plow and maintain,” Anthony Capozziello told The Newtown Bee early Wednesday afternoon. “We’re ready for this storm.”

Early Closings, Late Openings

The Newtown Bee will continue to monitor the storm as it approaches, is in the area, and after it passes.

C.H. Booth Library has already announced it will close at 4 pm today, and will remain closed all day Thursday, December 17.

The transfer station on Ethan Allen Road will be closed on Thursday, the Town announced Wednesday afternoon. Additionally, curbside recycling will be postponed Thursday and Friday. If the normal pick-up day is Thursday, pick-up this week will be Friday. If pick-up is normally Friday, recycling will be picked up on Saturday.

Newtown Public Schools on Wednesday afternoon announced that December 17 will be a snow day.

Businesses that will close early tonight, open late Thursday, December 17, or are otherwise affected by the Nor’easter are reminded to send that information to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, at shannon@thebee.com. Closings, etc will be added to our website as they are received and processed.