New Canaan is bracing for a winter storm that’s expected to arrive Wednesday evening and dump more than one foot of snow overnight.
According to a Winter Storm Watch from the National Weather Service, total accumulation will range from 12 to 17 inches.
“Travel could be very difficult to impossible,” according to the Weather Service. “The hazardous conditions could impact the [Thursday] morning or evening commute.”
The Winter Storm Warning goes into effect at 2 p.m. Wednesday and snowfall is expected to begin mainly after 7 p.m., according to the Weather Service.
In New Canaan, the Department of Public Works has transitioned away from its leaf equipment and is now mounting plows and sanders on its vehicles and checking to make sure chains, pumps and flashlights are working, according to DPW Highway Superintendent Mose Saccary.
“Sounds like it’s going to be a lot,” Saccary said of the snow.
In addition to the DPW fleet, up to three private plow operators in pickup trucks will help clear roads, he said.
Gusts are expected to reach as high as 38 mph. Snow likely will continue through to noon Thursday and sporadically for a few hours more, the Weather Service said.
New Canaan Director of Emergency Management Russ Kimes said the Emergency Operations Center “is monitoring the storm and are meeting [Tuesday] in advance to ensure that all our town Departments are best prepared to handle the potential storm. “
“Eversource notified municipal Emergency Management Directors and CEOs [Monday] that they are monitoring the storm—and we anticipate they will be sending out a preparedness briefing later today or early tomorrow,” Kimes said. “ We’ve received no communications yet from Optimum about their preparedness activities.”
New Canaan businesses and organizations, please use this form to let us know whether you’re open Thursday when the time comes, and we’ll share the information with the community: