WATERBURY – Central and parts of Western Connecticut can expect an average of 6 to 10 inches of snowfall today, with heavy winds and freezing temperatures causing problems into Friday.
“The main message is get ready for a wild 12-hour snowstorm event followed by powerful wind gusts and severe cold,” meteorologist John Bagioni, of Fax-Alert Weather Service, said.
Bagioni snowfall is coming in “bands,” with some areas receiving a few extra or a few less inches, he said.
Most school districts, including Torrington and Waterbury, are closed. The state, early Thursday morning, also closed all courthouses and cancelled jurors due to the storm.
Plows were out making passes on main roads, but drivers were seen slipping and sliding.
The heavy snowfall should wrap up around 3 p.m. Unlike some other blizzards, this one isn’t expected to hover over the area, Bagioni said. Light snow will continue into the evening. Wind and cold temperatures will be a big problem, he said.
USPS driver Sandra Kurtz has been delivering mail for 30 years. "There's been worse," she said, "but this is a good one." She said she was unable to complete parts of her route today because of the road conditions. Even New Haven Road is bad, she said.
Bagioni expects wind gusts of up to 55 mph to blow drifts back over plowed roads and lots, very likely delaying the start of school in some communities Friday. Temperatures will be in the single digits on Friday, he said.
Damaging wind gusts are possible into the afternoon and evening, and power outages are expected.
As of 10:40 a.m., Eversource is reporting 14 power outages among its 1.3 million Connecticut customers.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said Eversource has nearly 650 personnel available to deploy between the line and tree crews.
Eversource spokesman Mitch Gross cautioned that high winds and drifting snow could complicate responses. It will make travel more difficult and line-workers cannot go up in the arms of the bucket-trucks in winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, he said.
Eversource is the state’s largest power distribution company, and customers can report outages at Eversource.com, or by calling 1-800-826-2000.
Blowing snow in downtown Waterbury Thursday.
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