State Of Emergency Declared In CT By Gov. Lamont: Here's What You Need To Know

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that he has signed an order declaring a state of emergency in Connecticut in advance of the major winter storm that is expected to impact the state beginning Sunday evening and all of Monday.

Additionally, he has signed an emergency order prohibiting all commercial vehicles from traveling on all limited access highways statewide in Connecticut beginning at 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and remaining in effect until further notice.

Commercial vehicles include those such as permitted vehicles, trucks, RVs, tractor trailers, tankers, and vehicles with trailers. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification indicating when it has been determined that the emergency order on commercial vehicle travel can be lifted.

The emergency order is being implemented in coordination with Connecticut’s neighboring states, which are also issuing their own similar emergency orders in response to the storm as it is expected to impact the entire northeast region.

“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,” Lamont said. “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.”

See related: Snow Accumulation Estimates Rise Again As Blizzard Forecast Sunday

The emergency order prohibiting commercial vehicle travel does not apply to emergency response and recovery vehicles, including public safety vehicles, utilities vehicles, and vehicles carrying essential personnel or supplies, such as those carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies.

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Limited access highways are generally those that are designed to carry large volumes of traffic and have controlled access with on and off ramps. (For a list of limited access highways in Connecticut, click here.)

Declaring a state of emergency provides the governor with the authority to take certain actions necessary to protect public safety during emergency situations, such as the implementation of vehicular restrictions on roads.

One to two feet of snow is forecast to fall across the state and a blizzard warning has been issued statewide. Snowfall rates of two or more inches an hour are possible at the height of the storm late Sunday and Monday morning.