Hours after saying farewell to this year's Full Snow Moon, Newtown residents were reminded why the second full moon of the year usually coincides with the heaviest snow falls of the year: snow is in the forecast. Snow and icy rain is expected to reach Newtown, and the region, by early afternoon, in fact.Newtown's schools will be dismissing early today.The Newtown Bee to get the word out.shannon@thebee.com, with cancellation or early closing details.Cancellations & PostponementsPublic Building & Site Commission and Newtown Community Center Commission meetings scheduled for tonight have been cancelled.EverWonder Children's Museum has closed early due to the weather.Parks & Recreation afternoon activities are cancelled, including pickleball at NewFit.Newtown High School's and boys' swimming and diving and boys' basketball teams had competitions postponed because of early dismissal resulting from snow on Tuesday, February 23. Both contests will be made up Wednesday, February 24. The swim team will compete at Pomperaug in Southbury, beginning at 6 pm, and the basketball team's visit to Brookfield will take place at 7 pm.

The forecast for February 23 may not live up to previous year's snowfalls, however.  The National Weather Service on Tuesday morning was predicting less than a half-inch of snow to fall between 2 pm and the night-time hours. Rain, snow and sleet are expected to continue until 1 am Wednesday, before changing to rain and sleet for Wednesday's early morning hours. By Wednesday, temperatures will be back in the 40s, so any residual precipitation will be rain.

Before we reach the rains of Wednesday, however, there will be the icy mix of Tuesday afternoon and evening.

With that in mind, Superintendent of Schools Dr Joseph Erardi announced shortly after 9 am that

The early dismissal for Newtown's public schools means all Continuing Education programs have also been cancelled for today.

Local groups, organizations, businesses and anyone else with plans that need to be cancelled or postponed due to today's anticipated weather are invited to contact

Send email to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, at

Announcements will be posted as soon as possible.

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