A winter walloping: For the 2nd week, snow closes Connecticut schools; ice expected overnight

For a second week, Connecticut took a winter walloping that led to school closures and treacherous driving conditions for many commuters who faced both snow and ice on the roads Monday.

Up to a foot of snow was expected in parts of the state, where some residents were still digging out from a blizzard that had dumped more than 2 feet of snow on eastern Connecticut communities last week. Much of the state also experienced a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain, which created a sheet of ice over the snow.

Yet in Stonington, where the Connecticut National Guard was deployed last week to help dig out the town from 26 inches of snow, the latest storm appeared to be more manageable.

"It's a regular snowstorm with some ice problems," said First Selectman George Crouse, who didn't seek help from the National Guard this time. "Our trucks are out there doing their job."

The National Weather Service predicted temperatures would drop into the evening hours, with subzero wind chills expected overnight into Tuesday.

Some residents were taking the latest storm in stride, still basking in the New England Patriots' Super Bowl victory.

"It's a perfect New England day," said Sarah Dupont, 34, of West Hartford. "It's a winter wonderland and the kids have a snow day and the Patriots won, so I couldn't be happier."

Unlike last week's blizzard, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy did not issue a travel ban. Instead, he allowed nonessential state employees to come to work late, at 10 a.m. He urged Connecticut businesses to follow suit, though some decided instead to close for the day.

Connie Lowell, who walked along Main Street in Hartford to her job at The Travelers Cos., said businesses are "generally getting smarter" and delayed openings on Monday, rather than shutting entirely as they did last week.

Traffic accidents were reported throughout the state. State Police Lt. Paul Vance said troopers had responded to 57 crashes by late afternoon. A couple of them involved injuries but nothing life-threatening. He said state police also assisted more than 230 motorists, including those who spun off the road or whose vehicle became disabled.

Many flights in and out of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks were canceled. Amtrak canceled four trains operating between New York and Boston during the storm. However, it said passengers were accommodated on other trains.