FIRST SNOW OF THE SEASON
Oscar Barrera of New London walks along Moore Avenue with Marvel, his 4-year-old male West Highland White Terrier/ Shiba Inu mix, during the first snowstorm of the season in New London on Saturday.
Winter’s first storm, which was expected to bring significant snow with predictions of up to 8 inches, ended up hardly covering lawns Saturday.
Precipitation began falling much later than initially forecast in New London County, starting with mild flurries in the region late in the morning. Gaining strength throughout the day, New London County saw heavier flakes, giving way to slippery roads.
Connecticut State Police and local police reported minor traffic accidents throughout the region.
State Police, as of 8 p.m., had responded to approximately 220 motor vehicle crashes statewide, 19 with minor injury, and approximately 124 motorist assists with storm-related problems like spin-outs and disabled motor vehicles.
Public works crews throughout the region put trucks on the road throughout the day, plowing and sanding.
By 7:30 p.m., northern parts of New London County continued to see a heavier snow fall with poor road conditions reported from Norwich police. In towns such as New London, the snow had mostly turned to sleet by 5 p.m., allowing for better driving conditions.
Towns issued parking bans Friday night and into Saturday while events throughout the region were canceled or postponed, including the Niantic Light Parade, which was postponed to 5 p.m. today.
Eversource’s website did not report any significant power outages in the region throughout the day.
The storm is expected to be a precursor to colder weather ahead, with highs forecasted in the upper 20s to lower 30s and lows in the teens, according to meteorologist Gary Lessor.
Monday night could bring more precipitation to the region, Lessor said, but at this point it’s not clear whether that will come in the form of rain or snow.