A Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for the entire state, to be in effect from midnight Wednesday, February 8, through 6 pm Thursday, February 9.Newtown Public Schools announced late Wednesday afternoon that schools would be closed Thursday, February 9.Flagpole Photographers Camera Club has decided to cancel its "Know Your Camera" program scheduled for Thursday, February 9.Change Of Plants? Share Your Newsshannon@thebee.com.Facebook page and Twitter feed.Wednesday, 6:32 pm: NYA Sports & Fitness Center has announced "the facility will have a delayed opening for tomorrow (2.09.17) until 12pm."Union Savings Bank branches will be closed today. Also, this month's Friends of Counted Embroidery-Laurel chapter meeting, scheduled for February 9 at Christ the King Lutheran Church, has been cancelled.Newtown Youth & Family Services is closed for the day, as is C.H. Booth Library.Cornerstone Thrift Center at Newtown Congregational Church is closed today.

The weather service is predicting snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches for Newtown and the surrounding area, with heavy snow falling "late tonight through Thursday," the service announced on Wednesday.

The Weather Channel, which has dubbed the event Winter Storm Niko, said Wednesday afternoon that "the first major storm system to hit the region this season" is expected to start Wednesday evening, with 5 to 8 inches of accumulation and heavy winds predicted for the New York City metropolitan area.

A message issued by NWS at 3:17 pm Wednesday said that winds will be north 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. "Blowing and drifting snow is likely," the message indicated. Temperatures during the storm will fall from Wednesday's high in the 50s, "into the 20s," the weather service added.

Visibilities could be one quarter or less at times.

"Local power outages with downed trees and power lines possible," the weather service added.

As a precaution,

In addition, due to the impending storm,

As of 5 pm Wednesday, none of the evening meetings of town boards and commissions scheduled for February 8 and 9 had been cancelled.

Anyone who finds the need to cancel or postpone an event due to this storm, or businesses that decide need to change their hours, are invited to contact Newtown Bee Associate Editor Shannon Hicks at 

Include details about your change of plans, and they will be added to this listing. Notices will also be posted through The Newtown Bee's

Thursday, February 9: All