Winter Storm Targets Canton: What You Need To Know

CANTON, CT — A major winter storm is barreling toward Connecticut Sunday into Monday, with the possibility of a foot or more of snow amid nasty, biting cold.

The National Weather Service on Friday morning said the storm is expected to bring 3 to 7 inches of snow on Sunday, with another 4 to 8 inches of snow on Sunday night into Monday.

The predicted total of 7 to 15 inches of snow, however, could be exceeded, according to some TV forecasters.

Temperatures are also expected to be brutal.

The NWS predicts a high of 22 on Sunday, which will fall into the teens by Sunday night, continuing into Monday, when a high of 24 is expected before another plunge into the single digits on Monday night.

Folks are urged to stay off the roads on Sunday and let the state and local public works staff do their jobs and plow the roads, something that is easier given the timing of the storm.

Safety from cold

In Canton, local police offered up some safety tips for folks to cope not only with the storm, but with the expected frigid temperatures.

Those include:

• Take actions to avoid hypothermia and frostbite, namely dressing in layers and avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold.

• Checking on others who may be vulnerable to the cold.

• Keeping pets indoors.

"As temperatures drop significantly this week, we want to remind everyone to take extra precautions to stay safe during extreme cold weather. Prolonged exposure can be dangerous for people and animals," wrote the Canton Police Department this week.

Safe shoveling

The regional Farmington Valley Health District urged folks to practice safe shoveling after the storm.

For example, the FVHD said snow gets heavy and people should clear snow every few hours as it accumulates, rather than waiting to do it all at once at the end.

Other tips include avoiding overexertion, taking frequent breaks while shoveling, and stopping if one feels chest pains and/or shortness of breath. Folks should call 911 if this happens.

It's always best to push the snow rather than lift it, the FVHD said.

For winter weather safety tips, click on this link.

For the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, click on this link.