Governor Lamont Declares State of Emergency Resulting from Main Winter Storm, Prohibits Commercial Automobile Journey Beginning at 5PM Sunday

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont as we speak introduced that he has signed an order declaring a state of emergency in Connecticut upfront of the main winter storm that’s anticipated to influence the state starting on the night of Sunday, February 22, 2026, and persevering with all through the day on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Additionally, he has signed an emergency order prohibiting all industrial automobiles from touring on all restricted entry highways statewide in Connecticut starting at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and remaining in impact till additional discover. Commercial automobiles embody these reminiscent of permitted automobiles, vehicles, RVs, tractor trailers, tankers, and automobiles with trailers. The Office of the Governor will ship out a notification indicating when it has been decided that the emergency order on industrial automobile journey will be lifted.

The emergency order is being carried out in coordination with Connecticut’s neighboring states, that are additionally issuing their very own related emergency orders in response to the storm as it’s anticipated to influence the whole northeast area.

“We’re no stranger to snow in Connecticut, but I’m urging everyone to take this storm and the blizzard conditions it will bring seriously,” Governor Lamont stated. “During its height, we are going to experience intense winds that will cause whiteout conditions, severely limiting visibility and making motor vehicle travel very dangerous. Everyone statewide is strongly urged to avoid all unnecessary, non-essential travel. Plan ahead, get to where you need to be by early Sunday evening, and remain there throughout the duration of the storm.”

The emergency order prohibiting industrial automobile journey doesn’t apply to emergency response and restoration automobiles, together with public security automobiles, utilities automobiles, and automobiles carrying important personnel or provides, reminiscent of these carrying meals, gasoline, and medical provides.

Limited entry highways are typically these which might be designed to hold giant volumes of site visitors and have managed entry with on and off ramps. (For an inventory of restricted entry highways in Connecticut, click on right here.)

Declaring a state of emergency supplies the governor with the authority to take sure actions vital to guard public security throughout emergency conditions, such because the implementation of vehicular restrictions on roads.

**Download: Decaration of civil preparedness emergency
**Download: Emergency order proscribing industrial automobile journey