Stamford Gets 19 Inches of Snow - Share Your Pics! [Storm Hub]

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Updated, Saturday, Feb. 9, 1:30 p.m.

A release from the City of Stamford:

A “Snow Emergency” remains in effect until further notice. Parking remains prohibited on all designated Snow Emergency Routes. For a complete listing of these streets, visit: www.cityofstamford.org.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center will resume a normal operating schedule as of 1 p.m. today. Citizens Service Center will be open and accept calls until 7PM, and be reached at 203-977-4140.

The City of Stamford Public Works is continuing with snow cleanup of all city streets. By 8 a.m. this morning, crews had primary routes open and began working to push back intersections and opening secondary streets. However, motorists should remain off the roads and travel only if absolutely necessary, to allow public works to make safe roadways and continue with snow cleanup.

"Our city has fared well through the storm. I am very pleased with our Strategic Planning and Emergency Operations team," said Mayor Michael Pavia. "By closely monitoring the storm in real-time, the city was able to execute our Snow Emergency Plan efficiently and effectively."

All Operations crews remain deployed and are diligently working to make roads accessible as quickly as possible. Residents are asked to be patient as there are significant amounts of snow to remove from roadways.

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Updated, Saturday, Feb. 9, 1:00 p.m.

CL&P is now reporting 886 without power, or about 1 percent of their customer base.

For the curious, here are the snow totals for all the Fairfield County towns. Stamford is listed as getting 19 inches of snow. My arms feel like Stamford got 6 feet of snow after all that shoveling. From wunderground.com:

 Fairfield 35.0 1000 am 2/09 public
 Stratford 32.0 1020 am 2/09 public
 Monroe 30.0 900 am 2/09 Skywarn spotter
 Bridgeport 30.0 658 am 2/09 coop observer
 Shelton 26.5 700 am 2/09 public
 Weston 26.5 800 am 2/09 Skywarn spotter
 Westport 24.5 645 am 2/09 public
 Darien 22.1 500 am 2/09 public
 Norwalk 22.0 730 am 2/09 public
 Roxbury 22.0 800 am 2/09 Skywarn spotter
 New Canaan 22.0 600 am 2/09 CT dot
 Danbury 20.5 600 am 2/09 CT dot
 Stamford 19.0 1100 am 2/09 public
 Newtown 17.1 1000 am 2/09 public
 Bethel 16.0 800 am 2/09 Skywarn spotter
 Greenwich 15.5 315 am 2/09 public
 Ridgefield 12.0 800 am 2/09 public

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Updated, Saturday, Feb. 9, 11:30 a.m.

With cities in Connecticut hitting record snowfall totals, the storm has passed. According to the National Weather Service, Milford received the most snowfall in the state at 38 inches. Hartford received 22 inches, just 2 inches shy of their record. Towns immediately surrounding Stamford received between 15 to 22 inches of snow, with Greenwich receiving less and Darien receiving more.

It's still a little gusty out there, and Governor Malloy still has a travel ban enacted, so try and keep off the roads if you can. Metro-North service remains suspended as well.

One customer in Stamford is reporting a loss of power, according to the CL&P outage map.

The Stamford Athletic Club plans to open at noon Saturday, as will Chelsea Piers CT. Tigin is also open, as is Stamford Toys & "Snow Tubes" [Formerly Stamford Toys & Books]. The Ferguson Library remains closed.

Do you have a great shot of the snow to share? Upload it above, right on this article, and share it with your fellow patch readers.

Updated, Saturday, Feb. 9, 11:01 a.m.

Only one Stamford customer is currently reporting a power outage, according to CL&P's outage map.  

Here's the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

• Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 32. Windy, with a northwest wind 23 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph.
• Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as -2. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Sunday Night: A chance of rain after midnight. Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8, 5:07 p.m.

All classes for UConn are canceled Friday night through Monday. 

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8, 4:15 p.m.

According to Superintendent Winnie Hamilton, via social media, all students have been safely returned to their homes by 2:40 p.m.

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8, 2:15 p.m.

All CT buses will be shutting down at 4 p.m. and competely off the roads by 6 p.m. Approximately 400 line workers are staffed from in-state, according to CL&P, and hundreds have been brought in from outside areas to assist. More are expected tomorrow, CL&P said.

The Ferguson Library updated its closing time via twitter to 2 p.m.

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8, 1 p.m.

The Stamford Government Center will close to routine business at 1 p.m.

A “Snow Emergency” remains in effect until further notice. This declaration means that parking is prohibited on all designated Snow Emergency Routes. For a complete listing of these streets, visit: www.cityofstamford.org.

The City’s Emergency Operations Center is open, and has activated its Snow Emergency Plan. Police and Fire personnel are fully prepared and will hold over personnel as necessary, depending on the severity of the storm. Public works crews are fully staffed and have been out since early morning treating roads.

Stamford Public Schools will follow an Early Dismissal schedule today.

As the winter storm is expected to intensify this evening, state and local officials recommend that all motorists stay off the roads and highways once weather conditions begin to deteriorate. Temperatures are expected to fall into the evening causing roads and bridges to freeze and become hazardous.

If you must travel during the storm, provide your route of travel details to a family member or friend. Motorists are also encouraged to check media reports prior to traveling to gather the latest updates on road conditions and possible closures.

Blizzard conditions with snowfall rates up to 5” per hour will present zero visibilities at times in blowing and drifting snow.

Moderate power outages are expected. Connecticut Light & Power has called in additional line and tree crews which are being deployed throughout the state.

• Life threatening situations should be reported to 911.
• Downed power lines should be reported immediately to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.
• Power outages may also be reported here.
• Citizens Service Center will be open for calls at 203-977-4140 to report operational issues such as downed trees, etc.
• If necessary, shelter and other pertinent information will be available through the City’s Emergency Hotline number at 203-977-8840 and will be updated frequently.

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8, 12:30 p.m.

The Ferguson Library is closing at 4 p.m. today. The Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery is closed all day. The Stamford Town Center closed at 1 p.m. Friday.

Chelsea Piers Connecticut programming classes scheduled on or after 3:00pm are cancelled. The building will be closed from 4:00 p.m. Friday, February 8, until Saturday, February 9 at 8:00 a.m.

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Update, Friday, Feb. 8 7:08 a.m.

Stamford Public Schools are operating on an early dimissal schedule on Friday due to the impending blizzard, according to its Web site.

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Update, Thursday, Feb. 7, 11:45 p.m.

Stamford city officials releaed the following information Thursday evening in preparation for winter storm Nemo, set to roll into the area Friday night and bringing with it up to two feet of snow.

They offered the following tips for preparing for handling a winter storm:

• Stay indoors during the storm. Travel only if it is absolutely necessary.
• Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit:
  • Keep an extra cell phone car-charger in your automobile
  • Bottled water, 3-5 day supply (1 gallon per person, per day)
  • High-calorie, non-perishable food, i.e. granola/snack bars, etc.
  • Flashlights/Battery operated lanterns
  • Extra Batteries
  • Blankets or Sleeping Bags
  • Extra Clothes
  • First Aid Kit
• Develop and Rehearse an Emergency Plan: Organize a plan for you and your family, should there be an emergency. Always inform loved ones where you are and where you are going, in case you become separated or need to relocate. Teach family members how to use text messaging; text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
• Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: In the event of a power outage, portable generators should be operated safely. Outdoor grilling devices should never be brought inside the home for cooking or warmth. Only use generators and outdoor grills outside of your home and never in enclosed spaces such as garages, basements, or porches. Always run your generator outdoors as far from your home and your neighbors’ homes as possible (at least 20 feet) and away from doors, windows, and air intake vents.
• Register with Stamford’s Emergency Notification System, Code Red, to receive a phone message, text message whenever there is an urgent announcement or situational update. Visit: www.cityofstamford.org, and click on the “Register for Stamford Alert” button.
• Keep Automobiles Prepared: Power outages may disable fuel stations; be sure to fill up in advance if severe weather. Keep a cell phone car-charger in the glove box.
• Emergency Shelters: In the event of a major power outage, emergency shelters may be open to the public. Be sure to pack any necessary medications or medical equipment, toiletries and bed linens.
• Care for your Pet: Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather.

Additional tips on how to prepare for and respond to severe weather, visit:
www.ready.gov and www.weather.gov.

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Original Article

Thursday, Feb. 7, early afternoon

The City of Stamford declared Thursday afternoon a snow emergency in anticipation of the storm currently set to move into the region Friday evening.

The emergency will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday and comes with the following stipulations:

• Parking is prohibited on all designated Snow Emergency Routes throughout the city.
• Snow Emergency Routes are posted with signage. For a complete listing of
• Snow Emergency Routes, visit: www.stamfordct.gov/road-maintenance/pages/snow-emergency-routes
• All offending vehicles will be ticketed and towed during the Snow Emergency.
• Municipal Parking Garages at Bedford Street, Summer Street and Bell Street will be open 24 hours per day, at no cost, until the Snow Emergency is lifted.

"When a Snow Emergency is in effect, it is necessary to ban on-street parking on the designated Snow Routes so that snow removal operations can better clear the roadways," Mayor Michael Pavia said. "Snow removal is significantly more difficult when parked cars prevent snow plows from clearing from curb to curb."

• Garbage/Recycling Collection scheduled for Friday, February 8th, will commence beginning at 1:00 AM. Residents should place collection containers at the curb tonight.
• All Recycling Centers will be closed on Friday, February 8th.
• The Transfer Station will remain open as scheduled.

For further information, please refer to www.cityofstamford.org, or call the Citizens Service Center at 203-977-4140.