The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch in effect Wednesday, Dec 16 at 2pm, and running through Thursday afternoon.
The storm is expected to impact portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York.
Heavy snow is possible, with total snow accumulations of 12 to 17 inches. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph, especially along the coast. Minor to moderate coastal flooding Wednesday afternoon into Thursday morning.
Beginning on Wednesday, NWS says snow is likely, mainly after 5:00pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 32°. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Snow could be heavy at times Wednesday night. Snow is likely on Thursday and it will be windy.
The NWS warns travel could be difficult to impossible, and hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.
Eversource issued a release on Tuesday saying that as the major snowstorm makes its way to New England, they are keeping a close eye on the track of the storm and are ready for heavy snow and strong winds expected to impact Connecticut.
They said they will have line and tree crews pre-positioned around the state to respond to any damage or outages caused by this storm.
Eversource is also bringing in out-of-state crews to assist with restoring power if needed and has added customer care representatives to the company’s call centers to assist customers during the storm.
“We began monitoring this storm over the weekend and continue to closely watch its path and are adjusting our plan as needed,” said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom in the release. “The amount of snow expected may make travel conditions challenging for our crews, so we’re staging extra staff and equipment in our work centers across the state to ensure we’re ready to repair any damage we may see from this storm.”
Hallstrom also reminded customers that restorations may take longer as they ensure the safety of their employees and customers while working under the challenging conditions related to the pandemic.
Eversource urges customers to always stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1 and to report any outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000. Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
Eversource natural gas customers should be aware that some natural gas heating systems may be affected by a power outage. It’s also important to keep gas meters and outdoor vents clear of snow and ice buildup.
Customers should carefully remove snow and ice with a broom or by hand and do not use a shovel or kick the gas meter which can damage the meter.
