Snow Closes Schools, Knocks Out Power

Morning Commute Will Be Snarled

Power was out for thousands of homes and businesses and hundreds of schools were closed on Friday as Connecticut dealt the first snowstorm of February.

The snow was causing problems on the roads since this morning and there were too many crashes to list. One lingering issue is on Interstate 84 in Union, which was closed because several tractor-trailers had gotten stuck

While hundreds of schools closed, Newington schools did open. The decision is getting mixed reviews from parents and the superintendent defended the decision, saying the roads are fine and the students are safe. 

Snowfall projections increased from Thursday night into Friday morning, from around 2 inches in Winchester to a foot in Berlin. See the full list and see how much towns in each county got.  

Officials from the Hartford Fire Department said they had responded to several calls for power lines and tree limbs coming down because of the weight of the snow. The city has issued a parking ban from 6 p.m. on Thursday to 9 a.m. on Saturday.

AAA had been responding to several crashes in the greater Hartford area. Several of those calls had been for cars that have slipped off the road. 

Bradley International Airport is open and crews were removing snow, but there were some delays and cancellations, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority.

Gov. Dannel Malloy partially activated the state's emergency operations center at midnight before the storm started. EOC will help monitor storm conditions across the state and prepare for winter weather that could be impactful.

"We are monitoring this winter weather diligently, and because of the timing of this storm, I am calling for the partial activation of the state Emergency Operations Center at midnight tonight to better coordinate rapid response to any problems that may arise during Friday morning's commute," Malloy said on Thursday. "Different areas of the state are currently forecast to see different levels of snowfall. I am asking motorists to exercise caution and give themselves extra time to get to their destination."

A winter storm warning is in effect for every county except Litchfield County.

Weather Alerts 1(4)

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The snow should pull out of the region midday and some sunshine will be visible in the afternoon.

The weekend looks dry with a blend of clouds and sunshine, with temperatures in the 40s, before another threat for snow on Tuesday.

Stay with the First Alert weather team throughout this snowstorm. Download the NBC Connecticut app to get the latest on the forecast on your phone. 

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