UPDATED: Greenwich Announces Decision on School Opening as Town Lifts Snow Emergency

This page on Greenwich Patch will be continually updated to keep you up to date with everything we can find about the Monday-Tuesday storm in connection with Greenwich. If it isn’t reported on fully here, you’ll find a link here to more information elsewhere. If you have news about closings (even for an individual business) or other information about the storm that people in Greenwich should know about, email us at greenwich@patch.com.

Updated: 3:45 p.m.

This just in from Greenwich Public Schools: “All Greenwich Public Schools will be open, running on a 90-minute delayed opening schedule, tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28.”

Updated: 12:45 p.m., Jan. 27:

Greenwich has lifted its snow emergency and ban on travel, effective at noon Tuesday.

However, a decision on whether schools will reopen on Wednesday will not be announced until later Tuesday. Greenwich Point is closed to visitors for snow removal, according to First Selectman Peter Tesei.

Residents are required to clear sidewalks and the Greenwich Fire Marshal’s office is asking resident to pitch in and shovel out fire hydrants.

Here’s the announcement from the Board of Selectmen.

Effective 12:00 p.m. today, the Greenwich Board of Selectmen voted to end the Snow Emergency in Town. The Greenwich Emergency Operations Center has been demobilized as of 12:00 p.m. as well. The Town is transitioning into recovery mode at this time from the storm. This will be the final communication from the EOC, as we return to normal departmental operations. Additional updates will come from the Greenwich Police Department, the Greenwich Fire Department, and Greenwich Public Schools, through their regular channels. A separate release will be forthcoming from Greenwich Public Schools regarding school opening decisions.

Residents are reminded to clear their sidewalks and plow their driveways. Do not put snow into the roadway. Although the snow emergency has been lifted, the Town’s recovery efforts are ongoing, and we encourage people not to use the roads yet. We are hopeful that tomorrow will bring a higher level of normalcy in Greenwich.

The Greenwich Fire Marshal has requested that residents and business owners please shovel out the closest fire hydrant to their home or business. Fire hydrants should remain visible and accessible during a storm event to prevent delay in a fire emergency situation.

Greenwich Point is closed at this time. The Department of Parks and Recreation will strive to reopen it as quickly as possible.

Metro North Rail Road is looking to restore limited service today by 1:00 p.m.

Updated: 9:30 a.m. Jan. 27:

The blizzard of 2015 has come and gone and is now a good old-fashioned winter storm.

The National Weather Service has jettisoned its blizzard warning for the Greenwich area and issued a winter storm warning that will remain in effect until midnight Tuesday. About four inches of snow had fallen in western Greenwich, as of mid-morning Tuesday.

However, Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said Tuesday that even though Gov. Dannel Malloy has lifted the travel ban on local roads, “The Town of Greenwich has not lifted our local snow emergency for our local roads.” Malloy has not lifted the ban on state highways and parkways.

Gray added, “Please stay off roads and allow DPW to continue to do their work in (a) safe environment. Although the snow accumulations were less than predicted, it will take time remove and road conditions are still relatively poor.”

All town offices, libraries and schools are closed for the day, including the Holly Hill Transfer station.

Related stories:

• UPDATED: Winter Storm Continues to Pummel Parts of Connecticut
• UPDATE: Connecticut Snowfall Totals
• How to Report Power Outages
• Power Outages in Connecticut: An Up-To-Date Report
• What’s the Deal With Naming Winter Storms?

Forecasters say we can expect another couple inches of snow during the day Tuesday. And there is a possibility of light snow and flurries on Thursday and Friday.

Here’s the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.

• Today: Snow with areas of blowing snow. High near 26. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Tonight: Light snow likely with areas of blowing snow before 9pm, then areas of blowing snow and a chance of light snow between 9pm and midnight, then areas of blowing snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. North wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Wednesday: Areas of blowing snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Wind chill values between -5 and 5. Northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 10. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• Thursday: A chance of light snow after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 28. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Thursday Night: Light snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
• Friday: Scattered flurries before noon. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 33. Breezy.
• Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 7. Blustery.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 21.
• Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 12.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 27.
• Sunday Night: A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 24. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Updated: 4:32 p.m., Jan. 26:

Greenwich officials have announced additional closings of some town operations for Tuesday, Jan. 27, in the wake of the blizzard. And Greenwich Police and Fire officials are asking residents to adhere to the snow emergency parking ban and to dig out fire hydrants in your neighborhood.

The town also has prepped two shelters in the event they’re needed.

Here are the details in the latest statement issued Monday afternoon.

Greenwich Town Hall will be closed tomorrow, January 27th. Greenwich Public Schools will be closed tomorrow as well.

Eastern Middle School and the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center will be on standby as shelters, but are not open at this time. Please make sure to bring your medications with you to the shelter. Both shelters have generators available.

There will be extra Police Officers assigned to shifts, including staff available to man the Emergency Operations Center overnight. GEMS will have an additional ambulance available tonight starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Coastal Surge is projected to be from 3 to 4 feet. High tide is slated to be at 4:39 a.m. and come in at over 7 feet.

The Department of Parks and Recreation has one full tree crew on holdover, and has prepared 2 crews to react depending on the types of calls received. The Department of Public Works Highway Division has 26 trucks available.

Residents are advised to monitor local and regional media outlets for up-to-date forecast information. WGCH Radio – AM1490 will remain on the air throughout the storm.

Everyone should take the opportunity to check and refresh their family’s emergency kit. Use caution when shoveling heavy snow to avoid injury. If you must be outdoors, exercise extreme caution and be wary of road conditions.

Vehicles are not permitted to be parked or otherwise remain standing or stationary on posted Snow Emergency routes during a declared snow emergency. Vehicles not in compliance are subject to ticketing and immediate towing. Off-street municipally-owned parking lots can be used for parking vehicles displaced from Snow Emergency routes, with the exception of the garage at Greenwich Town Hall and the lot at Greenwich Library.

More Information:

• • • Power related issues are to be referred to CL&P at 1-800-286-2000.
    • To report a gas leak, please call Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG) at 1-866-924-5325.
    • For general information, visit our Town website at www.greenwichct.org
    • The Fire Marshal has requested that residents please mind the closest fire hydrant to their homes. Fire hydrants should remain visible and accessible during a storm event to prevent delay in a fire emergency situation. ,
    • The Holly Hill Transfer Station will be closed tomorrow, January 27 and may be reopened on Wednesday, January 28, depending on weather conditions.

Related stories:

• And if you lose power during this storm click here for information.
• Here are some great safety tips from the American Red Cross.
• What does a snow emergency mean in Greenwich?
• What’s happening with Greenwich schools?

Sign up for Greenwich Patch news alerts to stay on top of the latest weather developments by clicking here.

Updated: 1:35 p.m., Jan. 26:

Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei announced that Greenwich Town Hall will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 27 because of the weather.

Greenwich Public Schools also announced Monday afternoon that classes are cancelled for Tuesday, Jan. 27 and that a decision will be made Tuesday on whether schools will reopen Wednesday.

In an email to town employees, Tesei wrote:

“Due to the severe weather anticipated for tomorrow, in the interest of public and employee safety, Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

“Public safety employees and all other employees assigned to storm related activities shall report to work as directed by their supervisor.

“Employees assigned to Nathaniel Witherell shall also report to work as directed by their supervisor.

“Employees who are required to work shall be paid according to the terms of the employee’s collective bargaining agreement.

“Employees, except for Teamster represented employees, scheduled to work but who are directed by their supervisor not to report to work due to the severe weather conditions shall be paid for the day without charge to paid leave time.

“Teamster-represented employees who do not report to work, shall be charged a paid leave day based on the provisions of their collective bargaining agreement.”

And The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College announced that the Talk Cinema screening scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 27, will not take place. Ticketholders will be contacted at a later date with further information. PAC administrative offices closed at 1 p.m. Monday and both the box office and the administrative offices will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Original story: 11:48 a.m. Jan. 26:

The Blizzard of 2015 is starting out like a lamb with light snow that began falling in the Greenwich area about 7:15 a.m. Monday.

But don’t be fooled. By this evening, the storm is expected to begin roaring like a lion, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast. There is a silver lining in these storm clouds, the weather service has downgraded the snowfalls expected by the storm that will continue tonight through Tuesday evening. (The updated forecast is below.)

The Town of Greenwich has declared a snow emergency and is set to open its Emergency Operations Center at Greenwich Police headquarters at noon Monday. Most schools in Greenwich — public and private — are dismissing classes early on Monday.

And the cancellations already are coming in. The presentation and public hearing of Greenwich’s Capital Improvement Projects budget scheduled for Monday night at Greenwich Town Hall has been cancelled, according to a town hall announcement. The Junior League of Greenwich program, “Women as Gatekeepers of Peace: A Talk about Women in Peacekeeping and Crisis Response,” planned for Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Greenwich Library Cole Auditorium is cancelled.

Here’s the forecast:

• Today: Periods of snow. High near 27. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Northeast wind 15 to 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
• Tonight: Snow with widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 20. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13 inches possible.
• Tuesday: Snow with widespread blowing snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. High near 23. Wind chill values between 5 and 10. Blustery, with a north wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.
• Tuesday Night: Light snow, mainly before midnight. Low around 16. Wind chill values between zero and 5. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 27. North wind 10 to 16 mph.
• Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 13.
• Thursday: A chance of light snow after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 28. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Thursday Night: Light snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Friday: A chance of light snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.

If you went to work

Again the news isn’t bad for this evening’s commute. In most instances 1 to 3 inches of snow will accumulate by 5 p.m. and in most cases it will be less than 1 inch because the snow will be very light this afternoon.

If you need to do any last minute preparation, please get them done by late afternoon.

• And if you lose power during this storm click here for information.
• Here are some great safety tips from the American Red Cross.
• What does a snow emergency mean in Greenwich?
• What’s happening with Greenwich schools?

The bottom line is please be safe during this storm, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed on everything that is going on.

Sign up for Greenwich Patch news alerts to stay on top of the latest weather developments by clicking here.

Have a news tip or storm photos? Email barbara.heins@patch.com.