Watch for Icy Roads

The storm is over, but roads are slick with ice in areas on Thursday morning and there are many school delays.

"As temperatures drop into the teens, residents should be mindful that black ice will appear and could pop up anywhere in the state," Malloy said. "We expect icing to be a problem throughout tomorrow morning's commute. You should leave early and drive slowly," Gov. Dannel Malloy said during a news conference on Wednesday evening.  

Malloy said state police responded to more than 1,200 assistance calls as of 65 p.m., including 69 "somewhat serious accidents" with 12 injuries.

The National Guard was on standby throughout the day.

Malloy urged residents to clear snow that has piled up around fire hydrants and said firefighters in Bridgeport had a hard time finding a hydrant that had been buried.

The full Department of Transportation fleet of 632 trucks was treating roads statewide. An additional 200 contractors have been assisting the DOT, according to department spokesperson Kevin Nursick.

Nursick said the DOT expects to scale back its efforts later tonight but will keep crews on the roads to address icy conditions overnight and into the morning.

Between midnight and 9:40 p.m. on Wednesday, AAA received 790 calls for emergency assistance in Greater Hartford and eastern Connecticut, many of which were for towing cars that had broken down and helping those that were stuck in the snow.

Connecticut Light and Power will send about 80 employees to New York and Pennsylvania to help restore power after bad weather caused widespread outages. They're expected to leave early Thursday morning.

A representative from St. Francis Hospital in Hartford said improper snowblower use sent three people to the hospital today. The extent of their injuries is unknown.

Schools were canceled around the state yesterday and Malloy ordered all first- and second-shift non-essential state workers to stay home. A number of schools have already decided to open late Thursday.

CHECK FOR SCHOOL CLOSINGS AND DELAYS

Black ice is now a major concern because of low temperatures. Expect slick patches, especially where roads have not been treated.

Snow accumulations range from 4 to 12 inches around the state, with the heaviest snowfall concentrated in the northwest hills and the lightest in the southeastern corner. Chief Meteorologist Brad Field said.

On Wednesday morning, Malloy issued a "soft ban" on tandem trucks on the highways and New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced a ban on commercial and passenger vehicles on Interstate 84 between the Pennsylvania and Connecticut borders. The ban was lifted mid-afternoon on Wednesday.

“After having consulted with state agency officials and our weather forecasters, I am ordering all first-shift non-essential state employees to stay home today. I don't like the term non-essential because I think everyone does important work, but with poor road conditions I don't want to put anyone in harms way. I would also encourage private employers to follow the state’s lead," Malloy said.

He also postponed the State of the State Address from Wednesday to Thursday at noon.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles canceled all road and knowledge test appointments until 11 a.m. Thursday because of anticipated slippery driving conditions. DMV offices will open on time at 9:15 a.m.

The DMV is also giving extensions to drivers with registrations, licenses, permits, certificates and other forms or credentials that expire on or after Feb. 5. The extension will be valid until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.

CHECK THE INTERACTIVE RADAR HERE.

Hartford police are asking residents to move their cars out of school parking lots so they can be plowed in time preparation for the school day tomorrow. The city's parking ban ends at 10 p.m. Cars that remain in school lots will be towed starting at 11 p.m.

Anyone in need of shelter should call 211.

Another storm could move in over the weekend, but Brad Field said he expects more of a "fringe effect" than a direct hit. Our weather team is keeping an eye on it and will update you with more information as it develops.

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When snow falls, we want to see your photos. Send them to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com.

AAA offers tips on winter driving on its Web site

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