Deep freeze Saturday to be followed by snow
Jan. 14—A deep freeze is expected to settle over north-central Connecticut this weekend, followed by a snowstorm that is likely to make Monday's commute challenging for those who don't have the day off.
According to National Weather Service meteorologist Kristie Smith, temperatures will be driven down today starting later this evening. For Saturday, wind chills will make temperatures feel like it's close to minus 20, she said.
Sunday will be cloudy during the day, Smith said, then snow is expected to start falling Sunday night, with a mix of rain and sleet.
Expected snow or slushy icy totals for Monday morning were unknown early Friday, Smith said, but many people have the day off for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, so the morning commute shouldn't be too bad.
Vernon crews are prepared to respond to the upcoming deep freeze and storm, as they have an ample supply of salt and brine mixture to make sure that roads and parking lots are safe and accessible, Town Administrator, Michael J. Purcaro said today.
Bradley International Airport reported that it is closely monitoring the forecast for the storm and anticipates the airport will remain open. Airport crews are prepared to deal with any inclement weather, spokesman Ryan Tenny said.
Eversource produced a number of storm tips on its website. They suggest building an emergency kit with the essentials in case of power loss, including first-aid supplies, being attentive to severe weather warnings, having a battery-powered radio available, making sure you have adequate medical supplies and prescriptions, and having extra cash on hand in case ATMs don't work. Also, stock up on nonperishable canned goods and pet food, fully charge your cell phone and a portable, phone-charging battery pack, and download the free Eversource mobile app to report outages or check for updates.
Deidre Montague covers the towns of Vernon and Stafford.
