By Tiffany Williams –
HARTFORD — Governor Ned Lamont is urging Connecticut residents to stay off the roads Sunday as a major winter storm is expected to blanket the state with 14 to 20 inches of snow, potentially the largest single-storm snowfall in more than a decade. The heaviest snow is forecast to begin Sunday morning and continue into the early hours of Monday, with whiteout conditions possible.
“By noon on Sunday we are expecting snowfall to come down at very fast rates and continuing throughout the afternoon and evening and into the early hours of Monday morning, significantly impacting roads and creating whiteout conditions at times,” Lamont said. “We are strongly urging everyone to make plans in advance to avoid all unnecessary travel on Sunday. Our state snowplow fleet is prepared to clear the roads, and the fewer cars are out there the quicker and safer the snowplow crews can do their work.”
Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto warned drivers, “The best way to be safe in a snowstorm is to stay home and allow our snowplow operators to do their job safely and efficiently. If you have no other choice than to travel, please slow down, maintain extra distance between vehicles, and never crowd snowplows. Snowplows have limited visibility and need room to operate safely, especially in heavy snowfall.”
The Connecticut Department of Transportation has more than 600 snowplows and specialized vehicles ready to work around the clock to clear snow and ice. Officials stressed that staying off the roads is the safest option, citing NHTSA data showing that in 2023, snow and sleet contributed to 320 fatal crashes and over 22,000 injuries.
Motorists are urged to give plows space, avoid passing in active plowing zones, and be patient as crews work slowly to clear roads safely. Drivers should reduce speed, increase following distance, keep vehicles fueled and maintained, and carry emergency supplies including blankets, water, food, a flashlight, a phone charger, and a first aid kit. Lamont and state officials emphasized monitoring real-time traffic and weather updates at CTroads.org and advised never to drive impaired during hazardous winter conditions.
The state is mobilizing every available resource to protect residents and ensure snow removal operations can proceed safely and efficiently. Officials said the success of snow-clearing efforts depends on drivers staying home and letting snowplow operators do their work.