UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 1, 8:15 p.m.–Wilton Library and its drive-thru window will be closed Tuesday, Feb. 2, due to the snowstorm and dangerous travel conditions. Patrons can access the digital library resources 24/7 online.
Reference librarians will be available on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to answer any questions or inquiries. Reach out by phone at 203.762.6350 or via email. Visit the library website and/or call 203.762.3950 for any updates to this information.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 1, 6:45 p.m.–
Wilton Public Schools will be holding a remote school day on Tuesday, Feb. 2 for all students and staff. The buildings and campuses will be closed to allow for safe clean-up from the storm.
For convenience, the remote times for each school are listed below:
Miller-Driscoll: 9:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Cider Mill: 7:45-11:55 a.m.
Middlebrook: 8:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Wilton High School:
Office Hours: 8-9:30 a.m.
School Day: 9:30 am – 2:50 p.m.
Wilton Family YMCA: Due to the snow and inclement weather the Wilton YMCA will remain closed at least through 12 noon on Tuesday, Feb. 2. Check the website Tuesday morning, as YMCA officials will continue to assess the situation.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 1, 4:45 p.m.–Wilton Police have one report of a tree with wires down on Forge Rd. and are estimating five homes without power. Police Chief John Lynch says, “Eversource was notified and are responding accordingly. Power crews may have difficulty making repairs due to the high winds and heavy snow.”
Wolfpit Road is now open.
Updated Forecast/Timeline
Monday Night: Heavy snow this evening should taper off to lighter snow along the coast by 7 p.m., in central CT by 10 p.m., and in northern CT by midnight. The lighter snow may mix with sleet and rain in southeastern CT after midnight. Northeast winds gusting up to 50 mph at times may cause some additional power outages. Temps holding in the low- to mid-30s. Moderate coastal flooding (tides 2-3 feet above normal) is possible during high tide around 1:30 a.m. in western Long Island Sound.
Tuesday: A light mix of precipitation in the morning should change back to light- to occasionally moderate snow Tuesday afternoon before ending Tuesday night. A minor to moderate impact is expected for both rush hours.
Total Snowfall: Is currently forecast to range from 8-12 inches along the southeast coast, 12-18 inches across most of central Connecticut, and 18-24 inches in Western CT.
UPDATE: Monday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m.–Heavy snow continues to fall. Wilton Police report more than one foot has fallen already, making roadways slick and icy underneath. There have been white-out conditions, and police ask residents to stay off the roadways and allow Department of Public Works personnel to safely clear the roads. They may not be able to stay ahead of the heavy snow until it dissipates.
Wolfpit Rd. is closed due to a private contractor’s truck that rolled onto its side. Wilton CERT was activated to assist with the road closure. (There were no injuries.)
There are no reported power outages yet. Town emergency officials are in contact with Wilton’s Eversource liaison. They expect the winds to pick up later today which may cause some power outages.
The next update is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Update
At 1:45 p.m. radar and surface reports indicated that near-blizzard conditions are occurring in southern CT. Very heavy snow is falling with northeast winds gusting to 30-40 mph at times. Nearly a foot of snow has already fallen in southern Fairfield County. Temperatures currently range from the mid-20s in northern CT to the upper-20s along the coast.
Monday Afternoon: Heavy snow (snowfall rates up to 1-2 inches per hour) with northeast winds gusting to 35-45 mph will create near-blizzard conditions for the next several hours. Highs in the upper 20s. The strong winds may also cause some scattered power outages. A major impact on all travel is occurring at this time in southern and central Connecticut.
Monday Night: Heavy snow this evening should taper off to moderate snow by 9 p.m. and change over to a light mix of snow/sleet and rain in southeastern CT by midnight. Northeast winds gusting up to 50 mph at times may cause some additional power outages. Temps holding in the low to mid-30s. Moderate coastal flooding (tides 2-3 feet above normal) is possible during high tide around 1:30 a.m. in western Long Island Sound.
Tuesday: A light mix of precipitation in the morning should change back to light to occasionally moderate snow Tuesday afternoon before ending Tuesday night. A minor to moderate impact is expected for both rush hours.
Total Snowfall: currently forecast to range from 8-12 inches along the southeast coast, 12-18 inches across most of central Connecticut and 18-24 inches in Western CT. There may also be a slight snow shadow in the Connecticut River valley with slightly less snowfall.
Metro-North Suspending Service
Metro-North is advising customers to depart now for home or their final destination. With major snow accumulation and high winds creating increasingly hazardous travel conditions, Metro-North will shut down service with the last trains departing Grand Central Terminal at approximately 3 p.m. The last scheduled arrivals into GCT will be at approximately 4 p.m., with departures from originating stations shown online. Customers wishing to connect to Branch lines, please note details regarding the Wassaic, New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury Branches. Some trains will not be reflected in the automated system.
Please use extreme caution while navigating the system, especially on outdoor platforms and stairs. For continued updates please check back online or download Metro-North TrainTime or sign up for real-time service alerts.
Lamont Amends Tractor-Trailer Ban
Gov. Ned Lamont Monday announced that as a severe winter storm continues to impact Connecticut, he has signed an order amending the travel ban on certain tractor-trailers that was issued yesterday evening and went into effect early this morning.
Effective immediately, the amended order bans:
- All empty and tandem tractor-trailers from traveling on all limited-access highways statewide; and
- All tractor-trailers from traveling on Interstate 84.
The amended order excludes those providing emergency supplies necessary for response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccines, testing supplies, and medications, as well as those providing critical services or supplies to the public, such as fuel, medical supplies, and food.
It remains in effect until further notice.
ORIGINAL STORY, Sunday, Jan. 31: 8 p.m.:
Schools, Library, YMCA and More to Close as Wilton Prepares for Nor’easter and Poss. 50 MPH Winds
Wilton’s Emergency Operations Manager, Police Chief John Lynch, has issued a winter storm warning for town residents to prepare for a major winter storm, beginning Sunday evening, Jan. 31, around 11 p.m. and continuing until Tuesday, Feb. 2.
Lynch reports that Wilton is expected to receive at least 12 inches of heavy, wet snow on Monday, with higher amounts depending upon the change-over and banding. In addition, high winds will be an issue with gusts predicted to reach as high as 55 mph. He added that Wilton will experience the worst of the storm Monday until conditions ease up on Tuesday.
As a result, Wilton Public Schools have already made the decision to cancel school for Monday, and other organizations and offices around town have also announced closures in advance of the impending winter weather.
Eversource has set a pre-storm emergency event level of four with power outages expected, and the utility is preparing for storm response.
Lynch asked residents to refrain from traveling due to likely blizzard-like conditions at points during the storm.
Forecast Details
Sunday night: Light snow is forecast to spread slowly from southwest to northeast across the state between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. The snow is forecast to remain light overnight (snowfall rates around one-quarter inch per hour) with low temperatures in the teens.
Monday Morning: Light snow around daybreak is forecast to become heavier in southwest CT first and then across the rest of the state by noon, with snowfall rates approaching 1-inch per hour. A minor-to-moderate impact is expected for the morning rush hour with snow on most roads. Road conditions will deteriorate through the morning. Temperatures will rise into the mid-20s.
Monday Afternoon: Heavy snow (snowfall rates up to 1-2 inches per hour) with highs in the upper-20s. Even heavier snow is possible if any persistent bands set up inside the dashed line on the snowfall map (above). Northeast winds gusting up to 55 mph at times by mid-afternoon may cause whiteout conditions and some power outages. A major impact is likely for the afternoon rush hour with several inches of snow on roads and heavy snow falling. Minor coastal flooding (tides 1-2 feet above normal) is also possible during high tide around 1 p.m. in western Long Island Sound.
Monday Night: Heavy snow during the evening should taper off to lighter snow by 10 p.m. and change over to a mix of snow/sleet and rain in southeastern CT after midnight. Northeast winds gusting up to 50 mph at times may cause some additional power outages. Temps will hold in the low- to mid-30s. Moderate coastal flooding (tides 2-3 feet above normal) is possible during high tide around 1:30 a.m. in western Long Island Sound.
Tuesday: A light mix of precipitation in the morning should change back to light snow Tuesday afternoon before ending Tuesday night. A moderate impact is expected for the morning rush hour and a minor impact is expected for the afternoon rush hour.
Total Snowfall: Currently forecast to range from 8-12 inches along the southeast coast, 12-18 inches across most of the rest of the state, and over 18 inches in Western CT. There may also be a slight snow shadow in the Connecticut River valley with slightly less snowfall.
Eversource Response
Eversource has issued its own alert in advance of the approaching weather system and provided details on the preparations it said company personnel are taking.
The utility predicts the storm is will “have a significant impact on all three of Eversource’s service territories: Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire,” and that the impact remains fluid as snowfall total predictions may increase.
In addition, the company warns that “gusty winds may limit our ability to immediately and safely conduct restoration activities, and heavy snow may impact travel.”
In a press release, the energy company said it “will have line and tree crews pre-positioned around the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by the storm. Out-of-state crews are being brought in to assist with restoring power, and customer care representatives are at the ready to take calls if needed.”
The company’s “Emergency Event Level 4” means Eversource expects between 125,000 to 380,000 outages and 1,500-10,000 trouble spots. Eversource officials say in the case of such outages, restoration can range anywhere from 2-6 days before most customers are restored.
“We’ve been watching this storm for days and will adjust our plan accordingly,” said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom. “The forecasts call for large amounts of snow and high winds, which may make travel conditions challenging for the crews. We’re checking our equipment and supplies and staging the crews at our work centers across the state to ensure we’re ready to repair any damage we may see from this storm. We also remind customers that restorations may take longer as we ensure the safety of our employees and customers while continuing to work under the challenging conditions related to the pandemic.”
Eversource has also made public information on the number of personnel it is making available for storm response on Monday (including 100 additional out-of-state crews for CT so far, with additional personnel to be added):
Distribution Line Crews: Total 265 (Eversource–72, Contractor–193)
Transmission Crews: Total 13 (Eversource–2, Contractor–11)
Service Crews: 22
RSO Trouble Shooters: 114
Substation Electricians: 108
Tree Crews: 228
Damage Assessors: 121
System Operator Support: 29
Downed Wire Guards: 85
Eversource urges customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Be sure to report any outage online, or by calling 800.286.2000. Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
Wilton Closures
Town of Wilton: On Monday, town administrative services will be remote only, with no drop-box services. Email or call the specific department for service. The Transfer Station will be closed Monday to allow those employees to assist with the road plowing. All emergency services departments will be fully operational. On Tuesday, check the status of administrative services before coming to town offices.
Wilton Public Schools: Wilton Public Schools will be closed Monday, Feb. 1 (no in-person or remote classes will be held). If projected snow totals materialize, it is likely that Tuesday will be needed for clean up; if that is the case, then Tuesday, Feb. 2 will be a remote learning day for all students. The decision about Tuesday will be announced Monday evening.
In an email to the school community, Superintendent Kevin Smith explained the rationale for holding a traditional snow day tomorrow, even with students and teachers now being capable of remote learning:
- “The forecast calls for high winds during the peak of the storm which could cause power outages.
- “There is broad consensus among school districts across our region to cancel all classes [Monday]. Consistency across districts avoids the possibility of staff members with school-age children needing to be absent because they have to care for their own children.
- “Given the feedback after our last major snowstorm, there is wide interest among both staff and families to hold a traditional snow day.
Wilton Library: Wilton Library and its drive-thru window will be closed on Monday, Feb. 1, due to incoming winter weather and snow accumulation. Patrons can access the library’s digital resources 24/7 online. Visit the library’s website and/or call 203.762.3950 for any updates.
Wilton Family YMCA: Due to the forecasted snow and inclement weather the Wilton Family YMCA will not open on Monday, Feb. 1. A decision on Tuesday’s opening hours will be made sometime on Monday.
Trackside Teen Center: All Trackside Teen Center programs are canceled for Monday, Feb. 1.
Village Market: Village Market will be closed on Monday, Feb. 1.
State Closures
Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he is ordering all executive branch state office buildings closed to the public on Monday, Feb. 1, due to the severe winter storm conditions that are anticipated to impact Connecticut.
“This appears to be a significant storm that is about to impact our state, and snowfall is expected to reach rates at times of up to one to two inches per hour, causing whiteout conditions that will make it unsafe to be out on the roads,” Lamont said. “I strongly encourage everyone in Connecticut to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary, particularly during the height of the storm when these fast snowfall rates will make it dangerous to be on the roads.”
He has directed all Level 2 state employees who have been physically reporting to their office buildings throughout the ongoing pandemic to stay home.
Lamont also signed an order implementing a travel ban on certain tractor-trailers. Effective at 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, the order bans all empty and tandem tractor-trailers from traveling on Interstates 84, 91, and 95; and all tractor-trailers from traveling on Interstate 84.
The order is being done in collaboration with neighboring states that are implementing similar travel restrictions during the storm and excludes those providing emergency supplies necessary for response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccines, testing supplies, and medications. It will remain in effect until further notice.