A blizzard hit Hamden on Feb. 23, affecting the routines of both residents and students at Quinnipiac University. Heavy snow accompanied by strong winds added to an already harsh winter across the Northeast.
Snow began early in the morning and continued throughout the day. Several inches accumulated across the region, making travel difficult on both main roads and residential streets. While many residents stayed indoors until the storm passed, plow crews worked to clear roadways, though back roads remained covered during the early part of the day.
Town officials urged drivers to avoid the roads unless absolutely necessary, as crews treated surfaces and removed snow. Because snowfall continued into the afternoon, crews prioritized clearing major routes before moving into residential areas.
“The forecast changed very quickly over the last 24 hours, and now it appears that we have a significant storm heading in our direction that is likely to bring blizzard conditions,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said during a Monday morning press briefing. “In addition to high rates of snowfall, the particular concern with this storm is the very strong wind gusts, which will make travel extremely dangerous and will cause visibility to be very low. I am urging everyone to plan ahead and stay off the roads.”
The storm made its way to Quinnipiac University as well. University officials moved classes to remote instruction Feb. 23 and delayed the return to in-person classes Feb. 24 until 10:30 a.m. to allow additional time for morning cleanup.
The decision allowed for a smoother return as crews cleared campus walkways and made roads safer to travel. Snow trapped many students for hours Monday, preventing them from accessing food or water for a period of time.
“I’m a freshman so I live in the Dana dorm and we were stuck in there for a bit. We were expecting it, all of the Resident Assistants were helpful so we knew what it was going to be.” first year criminal justice major Grayce Fichera said. “Once we got dug out it was just a fun time, there were snowmen and all types of creations all over.”
Across Hamden, residents spent the day shoveling driveways and clearing sidewalks in preparation for freezing temperatures expected for the evening. Traffic remained light due to snowfall and reduced visibility, and many families stayed indoors as the storm passed.
Storms like this can throw off daily routines for everyone, requiring extra time for casual tasks and caution always necessary.
“We were stuck inside basically all day, it wasn’t until around 5 p.m. that our street got plowed and by the time everything was shoveled it was two hours later.” Hamden resident Melanie Espinal said. “There was definitely some concern about losing power but we ended up getting lucky despite all the wind.”
By late evening, snowfall began to fade off, allowing plows to make progress clearing streets. The well organized cleanup efforts allowed for Tuesday to return to normal for some Hamden residents while some remained at home.
The second big snowstorm to hit Hamden this winter certainly left its mark. Snow totals went over a foot leaving the area with a lot more melting to do.