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Governor: Travel Ban Working, Train Service To NY Ending At Noon

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With Connecticut State Police responding to just six crashes and 19 calls for service as of 9 am Tuesday morning, March 14, Governor Dannel Malloy tentatively pronounced his pre-blizzard travel ban a success.ood day to make brownies or read a book," the governor told reporters during a briefing from the state Emergency Operations Center in Hartford, which opened at 5 am Tuesday."I think we're better trained than ever," Gov Malloy said. "I don't close roads very often - but intensity of the snow means you have to act. We know that some essential staff must travel, so be careful if your job requires travel."

"It's a g

Nonetheless, Gov Malloy continued his mantra urging state residents and travelers to stay off the roads unless they are essential medical, utility, or public safety personnel.

"We have cameras and I was watching a State Trooper assisting someone who drove off the highway, which was putting them both at risk," the governor said. "And I bet that person didn't have to be out there."

Anyone deemed "nonessential personnel" caught driving during the travel ban faces a $92 fine according to a 8 am Tweet from the State Police, which reiterated that Interstates 84, 91, 95, and Route 8 are all officially closed.

In other late news, Gov Malloy said the last Metro North commuter train had departed from the state heading to Grand Central Station, and that all train service would be suspended along the Connecticut to New York corridor at noon - and until further notice.

He said the last few flights arrived at Bradley International Airport by 7 am Tuesday, and that airlines would not be scheduling any further flights into the airport until at least this evening to help ferry stranded travelers to their destinations beginning Wednesday morning.

While the governor was still talking possible periods of snow falling at six inches an hour, and anticipated wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour, the National Weather Service had backed off on both the wind speed and intensity for western Connecticut, forecasting 2 to 4-inch per hour bursts with possible wind gusts to 45 miles-per-hour.

One to two feet of snow is still expected before conditions begin clearing around midnight, and temperatures should remain in the mid-20s to the high 30s for the remainder of the week, with another possible snow event hitting early Saturday, and extending into Sunday.

The Blizzard Warning, however, remains in effect until midnight Tuesday, with temperatures in the 20s triggering the openings of 11 severe cold shelters across the state, Gov Malloy said.

The NWS is also predicting a possible changeover or mix with sleet through the late morning before turning back to just snow in the early afternoon. By mid-morning, visibility was generally a quarter mile or less, with total whiteout conditions possible, the NWS stated.

Some minor flooding is expected at New London and Bridgeport Tuesday afternoon, the governor said. And he reiterated messages being sent to homeowners from state utility companies reminding residents to clear low-lying gas appliance vent pipes if they become covered with snow to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.

The key to getting and keeping roads clear both at the state and local level is honoring the travel ban, the governor said.

Snow was blowing and drifting against this home near the Monroe Town line in Sandy Hook around 9 am Tuesday morning, as the Blizzard of 2017 was 14 or 15 hours from ending. (Bee Photo, Silber)
Snow totals from the Blizzard of 2017 are expected to range from one to two feet, with high wind gusts creating drifts much higher, along with possible white-out conditions. A travel ban statewide remains in effect. (NWS graphic)
In Dodgingtown, this ruler was measuring 5-inches of snow about eight hours into what the National Weather Service was indicating could be a 24-hour Nor'easter blizzard. A travel Ban remains in effect for state roads. (Bee Photo, Crevier)
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