Oxford Town Hall Shuts Down for Snowstorm [Updated]

Update:

Oxford Town Hall offices will remain closed Wednesday, as will the library and senior center. All evening meetings Wednesday night are also cancelled.

Town Hall will open for business Thursday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m.

Our original report follows:

With a significant snowstorm bearing down on the state, Oxford is joining towns throughout the area in announcing school cancellations for Wednesday, Feb. 5.

With the expected severity and timing of the storm — it's forecast to dump upwards of a foot of snow and about a quarter inch of ice — school districts are taking an unusual step and announcing the closures the night before, instead of the morning of as is customary.

The storm has also caused a delay in the start of the 2014 Legislative Session in Hartford, which was scheduled to start Wednesday. 
 
Travel is expected to be extremely dangerous, according to the National Weather Service, and the combination of heavy snow and ice could lead to downed tree limbs and power lines.

A wintry mix will start as early as 2 a.m. and then convert to all snow a few hours later. Snow is expected to fall all day and potentially mix back in with sleet later, according to the NWS.

"We're Ready To Go"

Oxford First Selectman George Temple said Tuesday that Public Works crews are ready for the storm.

Many of the department employees left early Tuesday so they can rest up for what will surely be a long day, beginning at about 4 a.m., Temple said. "[Public Works Director] Wayne Watt and his team do a terrific job," Temple said. "We're ready to go."

They are responsible for clearing the 120 miles of roads in town.

Keeping in mind the safety of Town employees, Temple said he would see how conditions are in the morning before making a decision about whether to close Town Hall, the library and senior center.