A rapidly intensifying low pressure system tracked from off the Southeast US coast on Christmas Day and then past the Mid Atlantic Coast on Sunday December 26th to just east of Long Island by early Monday morning December 27th. This intense low pressure system spread snowfall into the region Sunday morning, with bands of heavy snow plus embedded thunderstorms and very strong winds affecting the region Sunday afternoon through Sunday night. The powerful blizzard (defined when sustained winds or frequent gusts greater than or equal to 35 mph accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than 1/4 mile for three hours or more) brought a widespread area of 10 to 18 inches of snow across Southwest Connecticut and 5 to 10 inches across Southeast Connecticut. The heavy snow was accompanied by area wide winds of 25 to 40 mph and gusts in excess of 60 mph Sunday afternoon into Sunday night, resulting in near whiteout conditions with blowing and drifting snow and making all forms of travel extremely difficult to nearly impossible. In fact, several Metro North lines as well as Amtrak was suspended Sunday night into Monday morning due to high snow drifts. In addition, over 10000 customers lost power during the height of the storm.

Blizzard in NORTHERN FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in NORTHERN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:30:00 to 27-DEC-10 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Downed trees on power lines caused a major power outage Tuesday morning, December 28th, in Stonington, with 2745 customers without power for a while as a result.

Blizzard in SOUTHERN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The strong winds downed trees and power lines on Jamestown Drive in Guilford Sunday night, December 27th. In Madison, a large tree crashed through the roof of a house around 330 am EST Sunday night on Woodlawn Avenue.

Blizzard in NORTHERN MIDDLESEX, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:30:00 to 27-DEC-10 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Blizzard in SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

About 50 residents around Pond Meadow Road in Westbrook lost power after a large tree fell across a power line at 11 pm on Sunday night, December 27th.

Blizzard in SOUTHERN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The strong winds blew out 900 pounds of storefront glass at Abbey Carpet in New London Shopping Center in New London Sunday night, December 27th, while at the Garde Arts Center several awnings were shredded or ripped off the building.

Blizzard in SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Approximately 15 road closures were reported Sunday night into Monday, December 27th, due to downed trees and power lines fully or partially blocking the roadways around Wilton, with over 1100 people without power in the town. Tuesday afternoon a 20 foot section of roof collapsed at Lawn Doctor's production facility on Viaduct Road in Stamford, but no one was injured.

Blizzard in NORTHERN NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
From 26-DEC-10 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-10 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

The strong winds caused a large gas station canopy to collapse on Washington Avenue in North Haven and a tree to fall in Hamden between midnight and 1 am EST Sunday night, December 27th. Meanwhile in Wallingford, an 80 foot spruce tree was toppled onto a house on Pond Hill Road Sunday night.