The predicted snowstorm clogging headlines, news reports, and inland states had finally arrived in Connecticut Wednesday morning, but by the 5 pm commute, roads remained sanded and clear. Precipitation strengthened later in the evening, but never buried the state as it did neighboring New York and New Jersey. “Finally, it did come [Wednesday] night,” Mr Hurley said. “It was here for a bit, wind blew and it stopped at midnight.”

His department may have saved in overtime hours at the plow, but crews used extra “materials,” he said. “We ended up resanding three times. Enough came down for problems on the roads,” explained Mr Hurley.

The storm “fizzled,” but Mr Hurley warns, “The danger is — next time people won’t take it seriously.” Wednesday’s storm was bad enough, however, although there were not many accidents. “People had stayed home,” he said.

While residents who had hoped for a heavy snow may be disappointed, Mr Hurley asked, “Did you really want a storm that knocks down power lines and trees?”

Tiny flakes began dusting patios and backyards on February 10 at roughly 6:30 am. At the same time town plows hit pavement with a crash as trucks rumbled down side streets to push snow and distribute sand. “We salted and sanded and now we’re waiting for the bad part to hit,” said Mr Hurley, but deep accumulation never arrived.

As persistent but small flakes fell throughout the morning Mr Hurley cautioned, “This is the kind of snow that can build up and it can be sneaky.”

The afternoon was Mr Hurley’s real concern. He mentioned forecasts for more snow in the afternoon and evening. “When the wind picks up, that will signal the heavier part of the storm.” Anticipation, however, “is always worse than the actual event.” His words Wednesday morning came true and although the wind did increase, it was the storm’s last blast. By Thursday morning just a couple of inches covered the birdfeeders and mailboxes.

He and his town crews had “accepted that the snow is coming,” but the weather’s plans for the next 24 hours let them off the hook with more sanding than overtime. As of 11 am Wednesday, he felt roads could be clear on Thursday morning, which also came true.

Snow and wind were in the forecast through Wednesday night, and a windy day Thursday was brightened by sunshine. Schools had canceled Wednesday’s schedule Tuesday evening, and town offices were closed Wednesday. On Thursday students were able to sleep late for a delayed start.

Storm Warnings Good For Local Business

The threat of a massive snowstorm with high winds and possible power outages on Wednesday sent Newtown residents scurrying to stock up on Tuesday, said several business owners in the area.

“We had a 108 percent increase over what we had expected on Tuesday,” said Queen Street Big Y Supermarket manager Joe Fetcho, Wednesday morning. “Yesterday, it was all bread, milk, batteries, and bottled water,” said Mr Fetcho, “but today, we are pretty quiet. This was a good one,” he added. “It really got us a rush of shoppers.”

At the other end of town, Sand Hill Stop & Shop Supermarket manager Matt Fox said that Tuesday had been busier than expected, as well. “Usually, the first major storm of the season is a big panic for everyone, and after that, shoppers calm down a little bit,” he said. Still, Stop & Shop did see an increase in sales of the staples — milk, bread, and water — as residents prepared to hunker down on Wednesday.

Area hardware stores saw a peak in business, as well, on Tuesday afternoon. Newtown Hardware on Church Hill Road saw shopping pick up a little bit, said manager Dan Sorrentino. “Yesterday was much busier,” he said, but he has noticed that this year, in general, people are still being cautious about spending due to the economy. “We have sold more of the usual [storm supplies], like shovels, sand, and rock salt. The winds are supposed to pick up, so we may see an increase in people buying flashlights and batteries today,” he predicted Wednesday morning, as the light flurries began outside.

Not only were people picking up items like salt, sand, sleds, flashlights, batteries, fireplace starters, and firewood on Tuesday, said Queen Street Ace Hardware associate Monica Casey, “People were buying things like paint, so they could work on projects at home on Wednesday. Yesterday was quite a bit busier than usual.”

People continue to go by the “old rule” of keeping the gas tank filled when bad weather is pending, said Church Hill Road’s Friendly Service 52 manager John Ehli. Years ago, when it might be days before roads would be cleared, everyone made sure to top off the gas tank prior to a winter storm to avoid moisture build up in the tank, or in fear that gas stations would not be open for days.

While that is no longer true in this area, on Tuesday the gas station was “really busy,” he said. The station sold over 7,136 gallons of fuel, from kerosene to diesel to gasoline, a much higher quantity than a normal day’s sales.

Associate Sue O’Dell said that business at Sugar Hill Service Station on Route 302 “was slammin’” on Tuesday. “Before a storm, everyone fills up the gas tank. They’re worried about high winds and losing power,” said Ms O’Dell.

Sugar Hill serviced 177 cars on Tuesday, “But today, I’ve been here since 6 am, and we have had 13 cars, and no one has even stopped to buy coffee” she said at noon on Wednesday. A normal business morning would have seen between 40 and 50 cars stop by to fill up. “Today, nobody is on the road,” she said.