Tricky Turn of Thomas Road
With thanks to local Public Works crew, Thomas Road was all clear by late Tuesday morning as snow blanketed the community. WestportLocal.com photo
Saugatuck Snow Day
The yellow of Assumption Church punctuated the white and grey skies of Tuesday’s snow storm. WestportLocal.com photo
Morning Weather Report
Today
Snow before 9am, then rain and snow between 9am and noon, then rain likely after noon. High near 39. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. East wind 7 to 17 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
Tomorrow
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
A 40 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind 5 to 7 mph.
On or Close to Schedule
Tonight’s trains rain on or close to their planned schedule as snow began to cover the platforms and tracks in the community. WestportLocal.com photo.
From the MTA: With a winter storm expected to bring up to six inches of snow across the New York Metro area, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today detailed all-agency preparations being made to keep customers and employees safe while delivering as much reliable service as possible.
MTA employees will be deployed throughout the operating region spreading salt and clearing surfaces of snow, keeping signals, switches, and third rails operating, and attending to any weather-related challenges.
“Crews will be prepositioned as we monitor conditions for the duration of the storm, with the ability to respond quickly to any issues,” said Metro-North President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi. “Customers should still plan some extra travel time and use TrainTime for real-time updates if they expect to travel later this evening and early tomorrow morning.”
New York City Subway and Staten Island Railway
While the underground portions of the subway system remain unaffected during snowstorms, there are nearly 220 miles of outdoor track throughout the boroughs. The Rockaway , Sea Beach , Flushing , Brighton and Dyre Av lines are particularly vulnerable to snow and freezing precipitation. To prevent subway trains from being blocked in yards, they may be moved and stored underground in anticipation of heavy snow or ice.
New York City Transit has a fleet of snow and ice-fighting trains designed to keep outdoor tracks, switches and third rails clear of snow and ice. High-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow-blowers, and de-icing cars – retired subway cars modified with tanks and other specialized equipment to spray de-icing fluid on the third rail – are ready for immediate deployment. Additional employees will be at stations and in yards to assist with snow response.
New York City Buses
Articulated buses will be fitted with chains ahead of the Tuesday’s morning rush hour. Bus managers have technology that tracks headways and service in real time, allowing them to make service-related decisions more efficiently. Bus service will be adjusted based on road conditions around the city, and service curtailments on a route-by-route basis are possible.
New York City Transit and the MTA Bus Company have 35 snow-fighting vehicles in their fleet, which operate on predetermined routes to quickly reach terminals, lay-over locations, and other highly trafficked areas and known hotspots.
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
MTA Bridges and Tunnels personnel have activated full inclement weather preparedness for all facilities and the Operations Command Center Weather Desk will monitor the forecast. Over 9,600 tons of roadway deicer and 115 pieces of storm fighting equipment readied and available for deployment.
Bridges are equipped with embedded roadway sensors for temperature and above-ground atmospheric sensors that deliver real-time information on wind velocity, wind direction, humidity and precipitation via wireless communication. Additional restrictions may be put in place if conditions warrant.
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North's snow-fighting equipment is tested, and strategically positioned at facilities around the system.
Protective heat circuits are being verified to be operational, air brake lines are being purged of any moisture to prevent them from freezing, and electric trains are fitted with special third rail shoes to prevent snow from accumulating. Switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – use electric/gas switch heaters to melt snow.
Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road crews will be out across the service territory working to keep trains moving. De-icing trains will be running to keep third rails clear of snow and ice, while crews will be strategically positioned throughout the system helping to keep switches clear and operable.
Those who must travel are urged to be cautious on station staircases and platforms, as well as when boarding and exiting trains. Customers are encouraged to check the LIRR Train Time app, MYmta app, or new.mta.info. Customers can chat live with LIRR customer service agents daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. through TrainTime for any service-related questions.
Access-A-Ride
Access-A-Ride paratransit will continue to provide service. Customers may experience additional delays and wait times. Customers may want to consider adjusting or canceling their travel plans.
Paratransit Command Center will be monitoring the storm to track and respond to any customer or day of service issues.
Intrepid New England Commuters
Snow brought the Monday evening commute to a snowy end as the hearty commuters of Westport walked back to their snow-covered cars tonight from Saugatuck Station. WestportLocal.com photo
Snowy Evening on Main
Tonight’s snow storm began to cover the downtown area, including Nomade and Savvy + Grace. WestportLocal.com photo
Morning Weather Report: Snow? Winter Weather Advisory Begins at 7:00 PM
Today:
A 20 percent chance of snow after 2pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight:
Snow, mainly after 8pm. Low around 29. Wind chill values between 20 and 25. Southeast wind 9 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Tomorrow:
Snow before 11am, then rain likely. High near 41. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. East wind 6 to 16 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Tomorrow Night:
A 40 percent chance of rain before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 27. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Winter Weather Advisory: 7:00 PM Monday - 10:00 AM Tuesday
Expect at least 2 inches of snow, with about 4-5 inches of snow currently forecasted as the most likely scenario. The snowflakes are forecast to start falling just around 1 PM tomorrow, with the heavier bands of snow coming in just after sunset and through the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Wind chill values between 20 and 30 early. Southwest wind 5 to 14 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 25. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow
A 50 percent chance of snow after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 39. Wind chill values between 20 and 30. North wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
Snow, possibly mixed with rain and sleet before 1am, then rain, possibly mixed with snow. Low around 32. Breezy, with an east wind 11 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
The Ukraine War Began One Year Ago Today: We Take A Look Back
Senator Bumenthal, Congressman Himes and town officials address a crowd attending Westport’s rally in support of Ukraine in 2022. Photos below.
On February 24, 2022 Russia launched an unprovoked attack on the nation of Ukraine.
Much of the world expected Ukraine would be defeated in a matter of days.
A year later nothing could be further from the truth.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
In Westport and surrounding towns hundreds showed up at rallies in Fairfield county to support the people of Ukraine. Civic leaders, government officials including Senator Blumenthal and Congressman Jim Himes and members of the clergy spoke at those events and encouraged support for the people of Ukraine. Here are some photos of coverage by WestportLocalPress of those events. The pain, fear and worry for their loved ones and homeland, are clearly shown in the faces of those who came to each rally.
Westport has lead a strong fundraising effort including the establishment of a sister city relationship with Lyman, Ukraine. It took less than three weeks to exceed the initial goal of $250,000 to help our sister city deal with the devastation and suffering inflicted upon them by the Russian invaders.
A Candlelight Vigil was held in Weston the first week of the war.
Als' Angels of Westport sponsored a major fundraising event in Fairfield. Yunist Dance schools, which teach traditional Ukrainian dance held a large fundraiser at the Palace in Stamford where their students and instructors performed. Rallies were held in Southport, Darien, Stamford and other towns with a candlelight vigil Weston held shortly after the war began.
A huge rally was held at the 100 year old Ukrainian American Club in 2022 in Southport.
A year later support is still strong, however a poll this month The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that a year later there is in fact a softening of support in the U.S. The AP reported "Forty-eight percent say they favor the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine, with 29% opposed and 22% saying they’re neither in favor nor opposed. In May 2022, less than three months into the war, 60% of U.S. adults said they were in favor of sending Ukraine weapons". Support worldwide is strong still, with rallies at major European cities including London at Trafalger Square London and in front of the Russian embassy where protestors painted the street with a giant Ukrainian flag. In Parish the Eiffel tower joined the Empire State Building which was lit up with the familiar blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Al’s Angels of Westport heald a fundraiser in Fairfield in 2022 raising thousands to aid Ukraine.
Photos and story by J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
As the war drags on, the brutality and barbarism of the Russians has been demonstrated clearly with hundreds of verified reports of torture, rapes and murders of innocent civilians. Mass graves have been uncovered and millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their country or stay and suffer in the cold and dark as Russia targets the Ukrainian electric grid and destroys the homes of hundreds of thousands. Schools, hospitals and high rise apartment buildings lie in ruins.
The war continues to affect other countries as well with poor countries such as those in Africa struggling with shortages of food due to Russian seizure and reduction in shipping of Ukrainian wheat. The Wilson Center reports, "According to Ukraine’s ministry for agriculture, due to the Russian war on that country, approximately 22 million tons of grain are stranded in Ukraine waiting export. The broad implications are clear. As the UN Food and Agriculture Organization notes, Ukraine supplies up to 16% of the world’s corn exports and more than 40% of the world’s sunflower oil. A recent BBC report noted that Egypt and Bangladesh each get about one-quarter of their wheat from Ukraine. Moldova, already suffering from Russian occupation and the war’s fallout, gets over 90% of its wheat from Ukraine."
Some members of Congress have raised objections to U.S. funding in the tens of billions of dollars however President Biden's recent unannounced visit to Kyev, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and his meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda has shown that the U.S. stands strong with it's NATO allies and the European Union and will continue to have Ukraine's back. That support has resulted in tens of thousand of Russians killed and wounded with some estimates as high as two hundred thousand and as many as one-half of Russia's battle tanks destroyed or seized by the Ukraine army.
A 2022 rally at Darien Town Hall where the Giant Ukrainian flag was proudly featured.
A Russian paramilitary organization, the Wagner group has an estimated 50,000 mercenaries including criminals from Russian prisons currently fighting in Ukraine. In Russia, it has been estimated that one million Russians of military age have fled the country rather than face conscription.
We will have to see what actions the new Republican majority will take and how that will effect the status of a war which was supposed to last only days, but due to the courage and strength of the Ukrainian military and her people continues with no end in sight.
One thing seems clear; for now the people of Westport will continue to provide aid and support to a nation which has endured terrible pain and suffering and death day in and day out. Westport continues to stand with Ukraine.
Slava Ukrani! Heroyam Slava! Glory To Ukraine! Glory To Heroes!
The Yunist Dance Schools of NY and CT brought together students and instructors at the Palace Theatre in Stamford in 2022 showcasing the beautiful traditional dances of Ukraine.
Photos and story by J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Morning Weather Report
Today
Mostly sunny, with a temperature rising to near 40 by 10am, then falling to around 34 during the remainder of the day. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Breezy, with a west wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 17. Wind chill values between 10 and 15. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow
A 30 percent chance of snow showers after 1pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 32. Wind chill values between 10 and 20. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.
Tomorrow Night
A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. South wind around 7 mph becoming southwest after midnight.