Town plows were on the roads by late afternoon Sunday, December 11, shortly after the first snow of the season arrived in force. By daybreak Monday, cleanup efforts were concluding after the weather event left an average three inches of snow behind it.

A day earlier, residents saw some spitting snow by late morning and early afternoon, but that stopped for a few hours. The true snow arrived around 4 pm Sunday and continued into the overnight hours, quickly creating very slippery travel conditions.

Minor crashes were reported across town, some with injuries. Among the most significant crash was one on South Main Street early Monday morning, near the police station, where a truck crashed into and damaged a utility pole.

The storm led to Newtown Public Schools having their first delay of the academic year. Superintendent of Schools Chris Melillo sent a notice to parents and staff early Sunday afternoon to let them know he was monitoring the weather. By Monday morning, Melillo called for a two-hour delayed opening.

It was heavy, sticky snow. Perfect for packing snowballs or sledding on, the snow made itself at home, remaining on the ground for days. The sun was out, but the late-autumn temperatures prevented much of the groundcover from melting.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.