Hundreds of Valley residents are expected to use the ‘what do you expect, this is New England’ mantra in reaction to a snowstorm headed our way today.
Click here to read how your neighbors reacted to the forecast early Wednesday.
At 5:24 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the area starting at 7 a.m. today until 1 a.m. Thursday.
There could be 4 to 9 inches of snow, according to the advisory. An advisory last night predicted ‘heavy, wet snow.’****
The National Weather Service is forecasting a mix of rain and snow this morning, then a change to all snow in the afternoon.
Sure enough, it started to rain about 6:50 a.m., but there was still some uncertainty as to how much of the white stuff we’ll get locally, at least as of 6:30 a.m.
The television weather folks on Twitter were not in complete agreement with the National Weather Service, or each other.
A coating – 10″ statewide. Wild card is how much mixing w/ sleet/rain central CT gets. Could make/break the forecast. pic.twitter.com/3QGPbDokkk
— Rachel Frank (@RachelFrank_CT) November 26, 2014Snow, mixed with sleet and rain will still create issues today and tonight. STRESSING the lower end of these ranges. pic.twitter.com/Gs9sDz55jb
— Bob Maxon (@bobmaxon) November 26, 2014Part of the problem seemed to be predicting just how close the storm will hug the coast.
In any event, Gov. Dannel Malloy ordered state buildings to close at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. “Non-essential” state workers will be dismissed at that time.
“The more we can get cars off the road before this storm’s real impact is felt, the better our chances are for dealing with whatever Mother Nature throws our way,” Malloy said in a prepared statement.
Derby Mayor Anita Dugatto said Derby City Hall, Derby Public Library and the Derby Senior Center will close at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“The City of Derby encourages everyone to stay off of the roads tomorrow in order to remain safe during the storm,” the mayor said in a press release.
All schools in the lower Valley were canceled Wednesday in anticipation of the snow.
The annual Ansonia Thanksgiving football game and the Derby-Shelton game were still scheduled to be played on Thanksgiving, at least as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.
*********UPDATE at 11:15 a.m.: Derby-Shelton game pushed to 5:30 p.m. Friday, in Shelton.***********
But, the Derby principal pointed out Wednesday the Derby-Shelton game could change depending on the storm, so stay tuned (FYI — the Derby-Shelton game is NBC Connecticut’s ‘game of the week’).
The annual Commodore Hull 5K race will happen in downtown Shelton and Derby Thursday morning, but runners will be taking a different route because of the snow.
****FYI, if it doesn’t snow today, this story will self destruct, and any record of it should be burned from your memory.
