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Snowstorm Hits Connecticut As Malloy Urges Residents To Avoid Travel

Hartford snow plows (file photo).
Hilda Muñoz

A March storm has reached Connecticut, bringing heavy snow and gusty winds.

Most of the state will receive 6 to 10 inches, with more than that possible in western Connecticut, according to meteorologist Garett Argianas. Parts of southeastern Connecticut may see the snow change to sleet or rain.

Gusty winds could also cause power outages. But the wind won't be as strong as it has been in recent storms.

“We are urging residents to plan ahead and exercise caution if they need to travel,” Governor Dannel Malloy said in a statement. All nonessential state employees are being sent home early. He encouraged private companies to do the same.

"This is going to be very heavy snow," Malloy said at a press conference on Wednesday. "It’s going to come down in as much as three inches and hour at its peak in portions of our state. And because it’s so warm, it’s going to be a very heavy snow itself, weightwise, which can make it tough to move around."

The Department of Transportation has 634 state plow trucks on the roads, with more than 200 contractor plows standing by.

A tractor trailer jackknife closed Route 44 in both directions in Norfolk, near the Colebrook town line. No injuries are reported and crews are working on cleanup. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The DOT has also reported accidents in Waterbury, Trumbull, Greenwich, and Milford.

The snow is expected to end early Thursday morning with a slow morning commute expected.

Patrick Skahill contributed to this report.

Copyright 2018 Connecticut Public Radio

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Tucker Ives is WNPR's morning news producer.