Winter Storm Brant brought several inches of snowfall and sleet across the region late Saturday evening, prompting cleanup efforts alongside one of the most popular sporting events of the year. Trained spotters reported four inches in Tolland, with some Connecticut towns receiving over six inches according to the latest National Weather Service data.
Students at the University of Connecticut were made aware of service adjustments in the days leading up to the storm, including an early Saturday night closing time for the Student Union and changes in dining service hours. Numerous municipalities statewide, including the Town of Mansfield, announced parking bans in preparation for the snowfall.
Earlier model predictions indicated our area would likely receive up to 10 inches of snow, but less accumulation was received. Sleet formation also prevented more snow from piling up.
“A warm layer of air aloft along with some drier air resulted in snow transitioning to sleet and freezing drizzle shortly after midnight,” explained Jill Gilardi, a meteorologist for WFSB Channel 3 in Hartford. “This drastically cut down the snowfall ratios.”
Although some people may have been disappointed by lessened snowfall totals, this circumstance usually allows for quicker melting and recovery on the roads. The Connecticut Department of Transportation and local public works crews worked through the night to treat and maintain streets, in part to allow for additional expected traffic on Sunday afternoon thanks to “The Big Game.”
The City of Hartford uses a fleet of 30 trucks to help clean up the roads following storms like Brant, and instituted a parking ban at 9 p.m. on Saturday, according to WTNH Channel 8.
“I know it’s really difficult, inconvenient to get those cars off,” said Mayor Arunan Arulampalam during a press briefing. “We have about 500 people every time there’s a major storm that gets ticketed and towed, and we don’t want to do that in the city.”
The system that brought Winter Storm Brant moved out of Connecticut mid-morning on Sunday, but the below-freezing temperatures overnight may have contributed to a sprinkler line break at the Student Union. An announcement made on their Instagram account Sunday morning said the building would remain closed for the rest of the day and that all reservations were cancelled. Originally, a delayed opening of 5 p.m. on Sunday was planned.
Extreme cold temperatures have resulted in on-campus plumbing issues in the past, but the Student Union’s maintenance announcement states they hope to re-open for normal operations on Monday, Feb. 10. The building closure did leave students without a publicly accessible venue to watch the Super Bowl on campus, however.
This weekend’s storm follows wintry precipitation on Thursday, Feb. 6, which caused closures and class cancellations at all UConn campuses. Students are encouraged to be familiar with the university’s winter weather closing policies, some of which have recently been changed, and to be informed through the UConn Alert system and by checking their town’s emergency management notifications.
To stay updated with Connecticut weather, visit the National Weather Service’s webpages for their New York and Boston stations, in addition to local radio and television stations.