With a snowstorm expected to begin Sunday morning and extend into Monday, residents and visitors are reminded that during periods of falling snow, sleet, or freezing rain, parking on any public roadway that creates a hazard or interferes with plowing and sanding is prohibited under town ordinance.

Newtown Ordinance 28, Section 216-5 prohibits the parking of vehicles on town and state roads from sunset to sunrise between November 15 and March 15. Vehicles can be towed at the expense of their owner if they are found parked along roads during this time of the year.

Residents and visitors should plan ahead and park responsibly to help keep roads clear and safe throughout this winter weather event.

Governor Ned Lamont announced this week he would be activating Connecticut’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning at noon Friday, January 23. The protocol will remain in effect until noon Wednesday, January 28, due to a blast of extremely cold air expected to impact the state during that period.

While enacted, a system is set up for state agencies and municipalities to coordinate with United Way 211 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to make sure that anyone in need can receive shelter from the outdoors, including transportation to shelters.

Anyone in need of shelter or a warming center is urged to visit www.211ct.org or call 211 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

The National Weather Service says a large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies/Plains into the Mid-South beginning Friday, spreading eastward to the Mid-Atlantic and New England this weekend. A Winter Storm Watch will be in effect across southern Connecticut and other regional areas from 3 am Sunday until 6 pm Monday.

Heavy snow is possible, according to NWS. Precipitation could mix with sleet and freezing rain for a time Sunday night especially closer to the coast. There is a potential for snow accumulation of 6-12 inches, with localized accumulations over 12 inches possible.

As of midday Thursday, the weather service says there is a 40% chance of snow after 1 am Sunday in Newtown. That increases to 90% chance during the day. Snow will remain over the town through Sunday evening, continuing then concluding on Monday.

If this storm materializes it will be the second consecutive weekend for the weekend to be filled with snow. Newtown received an average of 9½ inches of snow from a storm that hovered over the region January 17-18, challenging resources and those who clear them.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley told The Newtown Bee this week that despite relatively low snow totals after two days of precipitation, last weekend’s storm nevertheless proved costly for the town due to the amount of overtime and materials needed to clear, and keep clearing, local roads.

The town used 700 cubic yards of sand, 300 cubic yards of salt, and 1,000 hours of overtime over the weekend. Most of the town’s prepurchased supplies are out, and the DPW will have to ask for more, he said.

In spite of that, Hurley said the department is gearing up and prepared for more snow predicted the weekend of January 20. Public Works has enough material to get through the weekend, he said.

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