"5 Things You Need to Know..." About the Snow Storm

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow... 

The first significant snowfall of the year also turned out to be the year's first blizzard. Here's 5 Things You Need to Know... about the storm that's forecasted to run through Monday evening and drop anywhere from eight to 16 inches of snow on the area. 

1. Gov. M. Jodi Rell is  all residents to stay indoors and off the roads until the storm blows over. 

"We ask the public to simply use common sense," Rell said in a release Sunday afternoon. "Stay home, hunker down, let the storm pass and allow our snow plow operators to do their jobs."

2. Until the storm passes, expect a north blowing wind between 20 to 30 miles per hour, with gusts as high as 40 to 45 miles per hour. The heavy snow coupled with the strong winds will severely cut visibility, leading to an increased possibility that those venturing outdoors during the storm will become lost or disoriented. 

So, again, if at all possible stay indoors until the storm subsides later this afternoon and into the evening. 

3. The National Weather Service is forecasting that the snow will begin to taper off Monday morning, but the strong winds and possible scattered snow showers will continue into the evening. The NWS has issued a blizzard warning for Hartford and Tolland counties until 12 p.m. Monday. 

4.  Bradley International Airport has cancelled a number of flights for Monday, while the University of Connecticut cancelled classes, the first day of winer intersession classes at the Storrs campus. 

Follow this link to check the status of individual flights at Bradley throughout the day. The university is expected to resume its normal class schedule on Tuesday. 

5. Check back with Manchester Patch throughout for the latest on traffic problems, delays, cancelations, accidents, and weather updates throughout the day and into the evening.