This is Valley Indy editor Eugene Driscoll's Honda buried in snow.
THE VALLEY — A nor’easter closed schools and businesses while dumping about 16 inches of snow in the lower Naugatuck Valley Monday.
The snow was wet and heavy, making removal tough but creating a large demand for private snow plows.
Wind gusts approaching 50 mph created tall snow drifts.
The Valley Indy live blogged updates starting on Saturday. This post is structured with the newest updates on top, with the oldest on the bottom.
Click here to see some snowbound photos from The Valley Indy staff.
Click here to see what was happening with the fire department and EMS Monday.
Tuesday will be sunny with a high temperature of 32 degrees, according to a forecast from The National Weather Service. However, the wind will make it feel like between 10 and 20 degrees.
MONDAY UPDATES
Update, 7:17 p.m. — Town of Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis issued the following info:
*Public Works will be wrapping up within the next couple of hours. *There is no school tomorrow, Tuesday, February 24, 2026. *Trash and recycling will resume tomorrow. *The Transfer Station will be opened. Please remember we are currently a day behind schedule. *The Town Hall and the Community Center will be opening at 10:00 am tomorrow morning. Please call the Community Center to confirm whether certain programs are taking place, as some instructors may not be able to make it to the site. *We understand there are currently site-line issues, and public works will address those areas of concern tomorrow. *Public Works will be cleaning up downtown sidewalks and bridges.
Update, 6:53 p.m. — The City of Derby issued the following storm update Monday evening:
Update, 6:07 p.m. — The City of Ansonia sent a Code Red message to residents Monday evening reminding that a full parking ban was extended to 12 p.m. Tuesday.
“Any vehicle parked on a city street is subject to ticketing and towing at the owner’s expense,” according to the message.
Also . . .
* All city parking lots including municipal lots, parks, Nolan Field and Board of Education lots will remain open for resident parking.
* Vehicles parked in the school lots should be removed at the end of the parking ban as the roads are cleared. Part of the plowing operations will be to open up lanes of travel in those lots so residents can access their vehicles.
* Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road.
* If you have a fire hydrant in front of your residence or building, please assist the fire department in removing snow from around the fire hydrant.
* Trash pickup is going to resume tomorrow on a one day delay. *
Ansonia Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, February 24th.
* All city buildings will be closed on Tuesday except for essential personnel.
* Residents face fines for throwing snow into the roadways. This includes residents that hire private contractors to plow driveways.
* Please do not interfere with public works plowing operations while they are trying to open up and widen the roadways.
Update, 4:12 p.m. — Gov. Ned Lamont’s office sent a press release saying the commercial vehicle ban on state roads has been lifted. Motorists are still encouraged to stay off the roads so snow can be cleared.
Update, 4:11 p.m. — A ceremony to mark the invasion of Ukraine scheduled for Tuesday has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Friday.
Update, 2:54 p.m. — Derby Public Schools will not open Tuesday, Feb. 24 so that the storm cleanup efforts can continue, according to Superintendent Matthew Conway.
Ansonia, Oxford, Seymourand Shelton public school districts are also closed Tuesday.
Update, 2:21 p.m. — The City of Derby sent the following message at 1:56 p.m.
Winter Storm Updates – Derby, CT
Monday, February 23, 2026 – 1:00 pm
Snow Emergency Remains in Effect: Per Mayor Joseph DiMartino, vehicles must park on the even-numbered side of streets until the emergency is lifted.
Parking Available: The Derby Municipal Parking Garage (2 Thompson Place) is open to downtown residents free of charge until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Hydrants: If you are able, please clear three feet around nearby fire hydrants to assist volunteer firefighters.
Sidewalks: Property owners are responsible for snow and ice removal under City Ordinance 172:1-19.
Road Crews Working: Public Works crews are working extended hours. Please be patient as roads are cleared.
Trash & Recycling: No pickup Monday, February 23. All collections delayed one day this week.
Stay Informed: Visit www.derbyct.gov or the City of Derby, CT Facebook page for updates.
Update 12:19 p.m. — Ansonia’s parking ban on city streets has been extended until noon Tuesday (Feb. 24).
School has also been canceled in Ansonia Tuesday. All city buildings will also be closed, aside from essential personnel.
City officials sent out a Code Red message around 12:16 p.m. announcing the extensions, while also asking drivers to stay off of city roads. City-owned parking lots remain open.
Trash pickup has also been delayed to an undetermined date. The Code Red message said a new schedule will be announced in the evening.
“Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road,” the message says. “If you have a fire hydrant in front of your residence or building, please assist the fire department in removing snow from around the fire hydrant.”
Update: 11:57 a.m. — In Ansonia, school is canceled Tuesday (Feb. 24) due to the weather.
“There will be no school on Tuesday Feb. 24 due to the continued clean up of our roads and parking lots. All district offices will be closed as well,” said a message sent by the school district late Monday morning.
Update: 11:39 a.m. — There were no power outages in Seymour as of 11:39 a.m., but there are several roads with downed trees, according to a Code Red message from Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis.
The following roads have trees down, according to the message:
91 Bungay Road
5 Chucta Road
Cemetery Road
Drugonis said the town is hearing about people having trouble with their Internet. Comcast has been notified, she said in the message.
The town has a parking ban until 12 p.m. Tuesday.
Update, 11:30 a.m. — As of about 11:30, road conditions remained rough throughout the Valley and the state, with snow continuing to fall and wind still gusting at up to 50 mph.
Ansonia Public Works Superintendent Michael D’Alessio said around 11 a.m. that city trucks were getting stuck in the heavy snow. He estimated it will take at least a full day to clear all city roads.
Also around 11 a.m., the state Department of Transportation said in a social media post that state roads remain in poor condition, while plows continue to battle against the ongoing blizzard.
State environmental authorities announced towns and cities will be allowed to dispose of snow in certain waterways throughout the state. According to a press release from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the measure is meant to clear road access for emergency vehicles and prevent flooding from blocked drainage infrastructure.
7:42 a.m. Monday — Residents woke up to howling winds and hip high snow drifts Monday morning thanks to a blizzard packing 50 mph wind gusts.
The temperature in Shelton was 30 degrees as of 7 a.m. with a wind chill making it feel like 15.
Neither United Illuminating nor Eversource reported power outages in Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour or Shelton as of 6:37 a.m.
However, 440 customers in Beacon Falls were without electricity at that time, or 15 percent of all Eversource customers in town.
Eleven customers were without power in Naugatuck.
Restoration times were not available early Monday. Contact your utility company for updates.
In Seymour, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis spent time before dawn livestreaming from the passenger’s seat of a town plow. Click here to watch.
Snow bands capable of producing 2 to 3 inches of snow an hour were predicted to cross Connecticut between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The wind and the snow is expected to continue for most of the day.
The embedded video below is NBC CT’s live coverage of the storm, as of 7:42 a.m.
SUNDAY UPDATES BELOW
THE VALLEY — 7:09 p.m. Sunday — A blizzard warning is in effect starting 1 p.m. today (Sunday) until Monday evening, according to The National Weather Service.
A nor’easter is predicted to dump between 16 to 20 inches of snow in the area, according to a weather service update issued at 4:51 a.m. Sunday.
“Never underestimate the power of a nor’easter, and this one is going to pack a punch,” NBC CT meteorologist Alexis Clemons said during a livestream Sunday morning.
On Sunday morning, Derby Public Schools announced classes are canceled Monday. Seymour Public Schools also canceled school for Monday. Ansonia Public Schools made the same announcement on Saturday.
DERBY’S SUNDAY UPDATE
Winter Storm Alert Update – Derby, CT
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Snow Emergency Declared: Mayor Joseph DiMartino has declared a snow emergency and vehicles must park on the even numbered side of streets per ordinance.
Parking Garage: The Derby Municipal Parking Garage (2 Thompson Place) will be available for downtown residents, free of charge until 9:00 am on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
On Monday, February 23, 2026:
Derby City Hall will be closed.
Derby, Senior Center will be closed.
Derby Public Library will be closed.
Derby Public Schools will be closed.
There will be no trash or recycling pickups. All pickups will be delayed one day all week.
The Derby Transfer Station will be closed.
Please stay safe & remember to keep your electronics charged!
ANSONIA UPDATE, SUNDAY
The City of Ansonia sent the following Code Red message 12 p.m. Sunday:
The full parking ban is now in effect. Any vehicle parked on a city street is subject to ticketing and towing at the owner’s expense. Police officers and tow trucks have begun the process of removing vehicles from the streets.
Please move your vehicles from the street now.
This is going to be a significant storm and we are expecting blizzard conditions to ramp up later this evening and overnight. Anywhere from one to two feet of snow is expected with this storm.
Snow should begin moving in over the next several hours. The storm track is forecasting high winds during the storm that may result in power outages.
These accumulation totals will make it difficult for emergency vehicles and plows to work on City Streets.
In anticipation of this winter storm, the full parking ban on all city streets is in effect now until Monday night, February 23rd at 11:00 pm. Based on the current predictions, it is expected that the parking ban may be extended into Tuesday.
All residents must remove their vehicles from the street to assist with plowing and emergency services now. All city parking lots including municipal lots, parks, Nolan Field and Board of Education lots will be open for resident parking.
Vehicles parked in the school lots should be removed at the end of the parking ban as the roads are cleared. Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road.
If you have a fire hydrant in front of your residence or building, please assist the fire department in removing snow from around the fire hydrant.
Trash pickup for Monday will be postponed until Tuesday and will be postponed one day for the rest of the week.
Ansonia Public Schools will be closed on Monday.
All city buildings will be closed on Monday except for essential personnel. Please remember that it is essential that all vehicles are removed from City streets during the parking ban.
Once the snow begins, please avoid driving as conditions are expected to deteriorate quickly. Further updates will be sent as needed.
Thank you, City of Ansonia
Seymour Sunday Update
No school in Seymour Monday, according to an image shared to social media.
Image from The National Weather Service.
Please scroll down to read alerts and updates issued in Ansonia, Derby, and Seymour on Saturday (including parking bans). Cleanup from the storm won’t be easy, even with parking bans in place.
Strong winds are expected to be an issue, too. The wind could cause white out conditions and bring down tree branches, which could cause power outages. Wind gusts could be as high as 50 mph.
Post continues after the image.
Facebook
The national weather service, state government, and local governments are telling motorists to stay off the roads during the storm.
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office sent a press release Saturday noting he is activating the state’s severe cold weather protocol at noon Sunday.
Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.
SATURDAY UPDATES
The information you’re reading below was posted Saturday:
Winter’s back.
THE VALLEY — A major winter storm is expected to dump a foot of snow on the region Sunday night and Monday. Here’s what we’re coming across in advance of the storm.
Please note that many schools, police & fire departments no longer send press releases to the media, opting for social media instead, which can make tracking new information difficult.
Ansonia Public Schools won’t open Monday, according to a message from district officials sent at 12:12 p.m. Saturday.
The police department sent word of a parking ban. Here is the message from the police department:
In anticipation of the impending winter storm, there will be a full parking ban on all city streets starting at 12 noon on Sunday February 22nd until Monday night, February 23rd at 11:00 pm.
These times may be extended based on the track of the storm and the amount of snow received.
All residents must remove their vehicles from the street to assist with plowing and emergency services by noon tomorrow. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed at owner’s expense, beginning after 12 noon tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 22).
During the storm, all city parking lots including municipal lots, Nolan Field and Board of Education lots will be open for resident parking.
Vehicles parked in the school lots should be removed at the end of the parking ban as the roads are cleared. Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road.
If you have a fire hydrant in front of your residence or building, please assist the fire department in removing snow from around the fire hydrant.
The City of Ansonia also sent a Code Red weather message to citizens on Saturday. It is republished in its entirety below:
This is a Code Red Message from the City of Ansonia.
The forecast over the last 24 hours has changed significantly.
We are going to be experiencing a significant winter storm beginning Sunday afternoon and into Monday. Accumulation estimates vary but our area is expected to get over a foot of snow.
The storm track is also forecasting high winds during the storm, resulting in blizzard conditions. This may result in power outages. These accumulation totals will make it difficult for emergency vehicles and plows to work on City Streets. In anticipation of this winter storm, there will be a full parking ban on all city streets starting at 12 noon on Sunday until Monday night, February 23rd at 11:00 pm.
These times may be extended based on the track of the storm and the amount of snow received. All residents must remove their vehicles from the street to assist with plowing and emergency services by noon tomorrow. Vehicles in violation will be ticketed and towed at owner’s expense, beginning after 12 noon tomorrow.
During the storm, all city parking lots including municipal lots, Nolan Field and Board of Education lots will be open for resident parking. Vehicles parked in the school lots should be removed at the end of the parking ban as the roads are cleared. Please remember to assist your neighbors and make sure that your vehicles are off the road. If you have a fire hydrant in front of your residence or building, please assist the fire department in removing snow from around the fire hydrant.
Trash pickup for Monday will be postponed until Tuesday and will be postponed one day for the rest of the week. Ansonia Public Schools will be closed on Monday. All city buildings will be closed on Monday except for essential personnel. Please remember that it is essential that all vehicles are removed from City streets during the parking ban. This is a full parking ban, no parking on city streets will be allowed.
Thank you, City of Ansonia
DERBY
The City of Derby sent the following info at 6 p.m. Saturday:
From the City of Derby:
Winter Storm Alert – Derby, CT Saturday, February 21, 2026
1. Snow Emergency Declared: Mayor Joseph DiMartino has declared a snow emergency starting at 12:00 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
2. Parking Restrictions: Vehicles must park on the even-numbered side of streets until 36 hours after the storm ends.
3. Parking Garage: The Derby Municipal Parking Garage (2 Thompson Place) will be available for downtown residents starting at 12:00 pm, free of charge until 9:00 am on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
4. Travel Advisory: Non-emergency vehicles should stay off the roads during the storm. Please stay safe and plan ahead!
Thank you, City of Derby
SEYMOUR
The Town of Seymour also sent a Code Red message to residents on Saturday at noon. Here it is:
This is First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, with a message regarding the upcoming snowstorm. It looks like the Snow Miser is not ready to let go of winter. Starting Sun. Feb. 22 at noon to Tues. Feb. 24 at noon there will be a parking ban put in place. The garbage and recycling pickup for Monday will be delayed by one day. We will keep everyone informed via the CODE RED, as well as Facebook.
Thank you, Town of Seymour
Image from the National Weather Service
The Seymour Police Department posted the following image to Facebook Saturday:
Screenshot
STATEWIDE
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office sent the following prepared statement Saturday:
State Emergency Operations Center To Become Activated Sunday Afternoon
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today is urging Connecticut residents to prepare for the potential of blizzard conditions impacting the state starting on the night of Sunday, February 22, 2026, and continuing into the morning and throughout the day on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Various weather models right now are forecasting that the southern half of Connecticut may receive anywhere from between 16 to 22 inches of snow, while the northern half of the state may receive between 10 to 16 inches. Some models are predicting higher accumulations. Of particular concern with this approaching storm are the very strong wind gusts that are expected to impact the entire state, with gusts exceeding 50 miles per hour at times. Moderate coastal flooding is also expected at times of high tide.
The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm containing heavy or blowing snow with winds in excess of 35 miles per hour for at least three hours and visibilities frequently less than a quarter mile.
As of this afternoon, Winter Storm Watches have been issued for northern Connecticut, Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for southern Connecticut, and Blizzard Warnings have been issued along the coast, starting at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday and lasting until 6:00 p.m. on Monday.
“The forecast changed very quickly over the last 24 hours, and now it appears that we have a significant storm heading in our direction that is likely to bring blizzard conditions,” Governor Lamont said. “In addition to high rates of snowfall, the particular concern with this storm are the very strong wind gusts, which will make travel extremely dangerous and will cause visibility to be very low. I am urging everyone to plan ahead and stay off the roads on Sunday night and through at least Monday morning. We are monitoring the forecast as it evolves, and I advise everyone to stay alert for updates throughout the weekend.”
Connecticut Emergency Operations Center to become partially activated Sunday afternoon
In preparation for the storm, Governor Lamont is ordering an in-person, partial activation of the Connecticut Emergency Operations Center (EOC) beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday to monitor conditions and quickly respond to any needs that arise.
Located in Hartford, the EOC is the state’s central emergency management hub, where state leaders, agencies, and partners coordinate information, resources, and strategies to manage emergency situations. Additionally, the state’s five regional emergency management offices will also become partially activated on Sunday in locations across the state.
Under the state’s emergency management plan, a partial activation means that EOC partners from several of the primary state agencies that are responsible for managing emergency situations will be coordinating continually during the storm. A full activation, should it be needed, requires additional state agencies to participate. Those agencies remain on standby and are providing assistance as needed.
Connecticut’s fleet of snowplows are ready for deployment; motorists urged to plan ahead and use caution
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has more than 600 snowplows and specialized equipment ready for deployment statewide. Crews will work around the clock as needed to clear snow and ice and restore safe travel conditions.
Motorists are strongly urged to plan ahead and avoid travel during the height of the storm. If drivers must be on the roads, they are urged to use the following tips:
Delay travel if possible: Staying home during the storm is the safest option.
Slow down: Reduce speed and allow extra time to stop on snow or ice-covered roads.
Leave extra space: Increase following distance between vehicles, especially behind snowplows.
Be vehicle-ready: Keep fuel tanks full or electric vehicles charged and ensure tires and lights are in good condition.
Pack emergency supplies: Carry blankets, water, food, a flashlight, a phone charger, and a first aid kit.
Stay informed: Monitor forecasts and check real-time traffic and road conditions at CTroads.org before traveling.
Never drive impaired: Winter conditions demand full attention and alertness at all times.
When approaching a snowplow, motorists are urged to:
Give plows space: Stay well behind plows and avoid their blind spots, especially in the rear corners.
Never pass in active plowing zones: Passing snowplows can reduce visibility and increase the risk of collisions with thrown snow or the plow itself.
Be patient: Plows often drive slowly to clear snow effectively; crowding or tailgating can endanger both drivers and operators.
For real-time updates on incidents that may be impacting state roads, visit CTroads.org.
Those using public transportation are encouraged to sign up for alert notifications with their transit operators, as schedule changes and service disruptions are likely during the storm.
To subscribe to emergency alerts through the state’s CT Alert notification system, visit ct.gov/ctalert.
For emergency management news and resources, visit the state’s CTPrepares website at ct.gov/ctprepares.
