Town Offices, Library Closing Wednesday At 12:30 (UPDATED)
UPDATED Wednesday, November 26, 8:36 am: C.H. Booth Library Director Brenda McKinley has announced that the library will also close at 12:30 Wednesday.
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Newtown Director of Communications Maureen Will has issued a CodeRed notice that is being delivered to those who have registered for the service, alerting residents that town offices will be closing early on Wednesday, November 26.
"Following the governor's lead, Newtown Municipal Center and town offices will be closing at 12:30 tomorrow," Ms Will said in the recorded message. All non-essential town employees will be sent home at that time, she added.
Earlier this afternoon, Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that state office buildings will close on Wednesday at 12:30 pm due to an anticipated snowstorm that is expected to significantly impact the state. Nonessential state employees will be dismissed at that time.
Town offices were already scheduled to be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 27-28, for the Thanksgiving holiday. They will reopen on Monday, December 1.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy has decided that state office buildings will close on Wednesday, November 26, at 12:30 pm due to the anticipated snowstorm that is expected to significantly impact the state. Nonessential state employees will be dismissed at that time.
“After speaking with emergency management officials and assessing the current forecast, I have decided to close state office buildings at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon,” the governor announced shortly after 5 pm. “The more we can get cars off the road before this storm’s real impact is felt, the better our chances are for dealing with whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”
Newtown schools, which were to have an early dismissal, will now be closed for the day.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for northern Fairfield and northern New Haven counties. Initially to be in effect for 24 hours, the warning will now go into effect at 7 am Wednesday and remain active until 1 am Thanksgiving Thursday, November 27.
Heavy, wet snow is still expected to impact travel on what is traditionally the heaviest travel day of the year. A report issued by NWS at 3:40 Tuesday afternoon now says accumulations of 4-8 inches of snow are possible for Newtown. Visibilities may drop to one-quarter to one-half of a mile at times, the report warns.
"A mix of rain and show Wednesday morning should change to all snow by noontime," according to NWS. "The snowfall will significantly impact holiday travel ... making driving dangerous at times."