Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered the early release of state employees as the state prepared for heavier snow on Thursday evening.
The dismissals were scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. and continue in 15-minute intervals, according to a release from Malloy's office.
"Given the impending snow and the severe cold, I've asked all executive agencies to enact their early dismissal plans," Malloy said in a statement.
He also urged private sector companies to let employees leave early to help ease what could be a difficult evening rush hour.
A light snow has been falling throughout the day on Thursday, but the heaviest snow was not expected to fall until after sundown.
In past snowstorms, rush-hour traffic has made it difficult for state Department of Transportation plows to clear highways.
