CT Under State Of Emergency; All Roads Closed

The National Weather Service says "the historic storm is winding down."  

Gov. Dannel Malloy has ordered all roads closed. 

As of 4 a.m., the NWS says the blizzard warning is in effect until noon Saturday. 

Here are some snowfall totals, unofficial observations, recorded by the National Weather Service for New London County: 

• Norwich 25.0 4 a.m. 2/09 CT DOT
•  Colchester 18.5 4:00 a.m. 2/09 CT DOT
•  Lisbon 15.0 10:58 p.m. 2/08 SKYWARN SPOTTER
• Groton 8.0 10:00 p.m. 2/08 CT DOT
• Stonington 7.5 10:30 p.m. 2/08 SKYWARN SPOTTER

Here's Gov. Malloy's statement about closing the roads: 

Governor Malloy has ordered all roads in Connecticut closed until further notice. This traffic ban extends to all vehicles except for those emergency response and recovery vehicles with the capacity to maneuver in heavy snow. "It's critical right now that residents stay off the roads, so that our plows can continue their efforts to clear our streets and highways," said Governor Malloy.  "This is a record setting storm.  It's going to take time to dig out of the snow. Stalled or abandoned vehicles will only slow that process.  Unless you face an emergency, please stay put." Notice of the travel ban was sent over the state's Emergency Broadcast System.

The New York Times is reporting that 650,000 are without power throughout the Northeast, mostly in New England. 

Marcy Reed, president of National Grid, said failures could last several days because repairs would not begin until the storm ended and would require unearthing power lines buried under mounds of snow.

Stonington and East Lyme were among the areas hardest hit in Connecticut, with more than 4,000 customers, or 50 percent of the town, without power in Stonington, and 7,652 without power in East Lyme, or 80 percent of the total CL&P customers in town. 

The National Weather Service is reporting that snow accumulations in some areas are up to 36 inches. As of 5 a.m., north winds from 15 to 25 mph were gusting upto 40 mph. Temperatures were in the lower 20s. "The strongest winds and heaviest snow will occur through daybreak ... travel is not recommended this morning as many roads are impassable with numerous reports of closed roads and stranded cars."