HARTFORD — Governor Dannel P. Malloy on Thursday, January 29, ordered the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol to be extended and remain in effect through Sunday, February 8, as dangerously cold temperatures continue to affect the state.

The Severe Cold Weather Protocol activates a network of procedures among the relevant state agencies to ensure that the most vulnerable receive shelter from the cold. Residents calling 211 from anywhere in the state will find the latest list of warming locations around Connecticut.

Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 211 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.

The protocol was enacted for the first time this year on January 6, as the state saw its first batch of extended cold weather, and then again on January 16 when severely cold weather returned. It was used again earlier this week, as Winter Storm Juno bore down on the state.

Over the next ten nights, temperatures across the state are expected to be near zero or subzero. If you know someone in need of shelter, call 211 for a list of locations in Connecticut.

Snow is expected, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), to return to Newtown after 9 pm Thursday, accompanied by wind chill values between 15 and 20 degrees. Snow will “likely” continue Friday morning, according to NWS, until noon. Overnight precipitation should be about two inches, while Friday morning will see an addition of less than one inch.

Skies will be mostly cloudy, and temperatures will remain right at the freezing mark. A southwest wind of 5-10 mph will create wind chills values between 10 and 20. Winds will move northwest, 11-16 mph, by the afternoon, creating a lower wind chill value.

Saturday will continue to be blustery with northwest winds of 14-21 mph, and gusts as high as 36 mph. It will be sunny and cold, with a high of 17 degrees.

As of Thursday morning, the NWS was predicting temperatures for Newtown to remain  very cold through at least next Wednesday.