Updated: Friday, 5 :44 p.m.

HARTFORD — Brace yourself for Nemo, a winter blizzard is expected to cover Hartford with massive snow fall beginning on Friday morning.

Because a blizzard includes sustained wind or frequent gusts over 35 miles per hour for three hours or more, white-out conditions, and heavy snow, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is asking nonessential state employees to stay home on Friday in advance of the coming blizzard. However, evening and midnight shift employees should report to work as normal on Friday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Watch for now until Saturday for several counties including Hartford. The winter storm is expected to make significant snow fall along the northeast and is considered a historic winter storm for the Northeastern U.S.”

Mayor Pedro E. Segarra has called a press conference for Friday morning to give updates on preparations for the coming blizzard.  On Thursday, he said that the following preparations are actively underway for Winter Storm Nemo:

• The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be open as of 11am on Friday, February 8 located at the new Public Safety Complex on 253 High Street.
• A Level 2 Parking Ban has been issued citywide beginning at 7am on Friday, February 8 and will remain in effect until further notice. ALL PARKING ON CITY STREETS IS BANNED. Any vehicle parked on the street is subject to tag and tow. A $108 fine plus a $99 ticket fee will be strictly enforced.
• All City Parks will close at dusk today and remain closed for duration of storm until all safety checks are cleared.
• Hartford Fire Department has placed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on standby.
• The Department of Public Works (DPW) is engaged in general storm preparations and setting up for 12-hour rotations of drivers.
• All regular DPW employees have been notified to be on stand-by this weekend.
• The City’s Transfer station will be closed on Friday and Saturday.
• The Police Department is fully staffed and prepared to respond to emergencies.
• Residents are encouraged to call the direct line at the EOC, 860-757-0040 or 911 for emergencies. For towing information contact the Hartford Police Department’s Records Division at 860-757-4150 until 6:30pm and then 860-757-4000 any time after.

More updates will be issued as they come in.