West Hartford Public Schools announced that schools and offices will be closed on Thursday, Feb. 6, and a parking ban will be in effect on Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

By Ronni Newton

The Town of West Hartford has announced that a parking ban will be in effect from 7 a.m. ubtil 7 p.m on Thursday, Feb. 6. In addition, it was announced Wednesday evening that all West Hartford Public Schools and offices will also be closed on Thursday.

According to the National Weather Service, a Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect at 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6. The forecast calls for snow, freezing rain, and sleet before 2 p.m., with a chance of additional freezing rain and sleet through 4 p.m. Total accumulation of 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet is possible, and temperatures are expected to reach a high of 32ºF.

“During a Parking Ban, no on-street parking is allowed so that Public Works crews can remove snow from curb to curb. Cars left on the road create a safety hazard for all concerned,” the town stated in an announcement.

Public Works, in coordination with the West Hartford Police Department, will strictly enforce the parking ban “to ensure a safe and efficient transportation system for vehicles and pedestrians during snow removal operations.”

Residents are urged to plan ahead to identify alternate, off-street parking locations.

Along Farmington Avenue, from Trout Brook Drive to the Hartford town line, the newly-installed Blue Light Parking Ban Notification System will flash blue to indicate when a parking ban is in effect.

Municipal lots and garages are available for use, as are public school lots because schools are closed.

Pay-to-park fees will apply at municipal center parking lots and garages. Motorists may register their plates using one of the kiosks inside the garage or a mobile app (e.g., the Flowbird app or the PassportParking app).

Those who park in school or outdoor municipal lots are asked to park close together and not leave parking spaces between vehicles to ensure plow driver can clear the snow most efficiently.

“This is New England, and every winter we get weather events like this that require everyone to use caution if they plan on doing any travel,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement Wednesday evening. “We are closely monitoring the weather, and our crews have already been pre-treating the roads and are ready to deploy as precipitation begins. As always, I implore everyone to continue monitoring the forecast, and if you travel, use caution, drive slow, and leave room for the plows to do their jobs.”

The University of Connecticut posted on X that in-person classes at all campuses other than UConn Health are canceled Thursday.

ALL CAMPUSES EXCEPT UCONN HEALTH – Due to winter weather, all in-person classes at Storrs, the School of Law, and all regional campuses except UConn Health will be canceled on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.

— UConn (@UConn) February 5, 2025

Enforcement

The community is asked to comply with the parking ban, and West Hartford Police will proactively assist the Department of Public Works in ensuring that the roads are clear of illegally parked vehicles. The town said that cars in violation of the parking ban will be ticketed and towed.

Snow removal contractors are reminded not to push snow from driveways and private parking lots into the street.

Sidewalks

Per town ordinance, West Hartford property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from the sidewalk along their property line within 12 hours after the storm or by sunrise – whichever is later. Residents are required to keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice.

It’s particularly important to keep heavily-used sidewalks – those near schools, public buildings, and commercial areas – free and clear. Snow clearing violations should be reported to the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203.

Trash Collection

The collection of trash and recycling by Paine’s Inc. is not expected to be affected by the storm. Collection is not delayed due to the holiday either.

Hydrants

Residents are also asked to help out the West Hartford Fire Department and keep the community safe by shoveling the area around fire hydrants.

Alerts

Sign up here to receive alerts about emergencies and other important community news through West Hartford’s Community Advisory Notification System. This emergency alert system enables the town to provide you with critical information by text, voice, and email. 

Check out the Ready.gov website on how to prepare for winter storms.

Check back regularly with We-Ha.com for any updates and storm-related news.