HARTFORD, Conn. -- Snow is expected to fall at rates of 1 to 3 inches an hour this morning as a blizzard made life miserable in the Nutmeg State.
The National Weather Service said central Connecticut could expect about 16 inches of snow by the time the storm ends Sunday evening. Coastal Connecticut already had about more than a foot of snow with wind gusts greater than 50 mph.
Along the coast residents are reporting the greatest amount of snowfall.
Richard Brown, City Manager for New London, Conn., told NBC 30 Connecticut News that his community has received "14 to 20 inches."
"The wind is making it difficult to control," Brown said.
Officials said about 900 people were without power in Connecticut early Sunday morning. Gov. M. Jodi Rell was urging people to stay home to give road crews a chance to clean the roads.
NBC 30's Garret Argianas reported that the winds are becoming a problem.
"The very gusty winds will persist even as the snow begins to end later today," he said. "We have drifts well over two feet in West Hartford."
Some Snowfall Totals Old Saybrook - 20 inches Darien - 18 inches New Britain - 12 inchesBradley International Airport, which closed about 6: 30 p.m. Saturday, was expected to reopen Sunday afternoon, although travelers are urged to call their airlines to confirm flights and check for delays.
Blizzard Creates Flooding Concerns
Gov. Rell has more than 100 National Guardsmen on standby as the state continues digging out from the first blizzard of 2005.
The blizzard is expected to create a storm surge of 4 to 7 feed that will make flooding likely in Bridgeport and Stamford.
A high tide of 13 feet is expected in Stamford at 10 a.m. Monday. A high tide of more than 11 feet is expected in Bridgeport.
Rell said she would ask for federal aid to recover some of the cleanup costs.
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