Live updates: Nor'easter sweeps through CT and NY. Many schools are closed for snowday

As of 4 p.m., Eversource reports around 650 power outages in Connecticut. This is down from just over 1,700 outages at noon today. The outages are mostly located within Windham, and New London county. The remaining outages are interspersed throughout the rest of the state. Eversource estimates that most of the remaining outages should be repaired before 8 p.m. tonight.

PSEG Long Island is responding to more than 3,500 outages throughout Suffolk and Nassau county. While the number of outages has stayed the same since noon today, the utility has reportedly repaired several lines, but others have gone down.

The outages are condensed mainly in Southampton and East Hampton with over 1,300 customers without power. The Smithtown Bay community and the Town of Huntington have around 700 outages. In Nassau, Hempstead, North Hempstead, and Oyster Bay have around 500 outages.

PSEG Long Island estimates that a majority of the outages will be repaired before 10 p.m. tonight.

Governor Ned Lamont has lifted an order that banned all tandem tractor trailers and empty tractor trailers from traveling on all limited access highways statewide.

The ban was enacted in coordination with Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island, who all implemented similar travel bans on their roads. Those states are planning on lifting their respective travel bans once the winter storm begins to wind down.

Lamont urges all Connecticut residents to exercise caution while traveling and be careful around snowplows attempting to clear the roads.

The Connecticut State Police have reported an increase in motor vehicle accidents due to inclement weather. As of 1 p.m., there have been:

• 764 calls for service
• 123 motorist assists (spinouts, disabled vehicles, etc.) 
• 161 accidents 
• 8 crashes resulting in injury 

Traffic coming in and out of Hartford is currently blocked due to a crash on I-91 Northbound between Exits 29 and 29A and a number of delays on I-84 East.

The state Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection urges residents to drive slowly to avoid losing control of their vehicles and encourages residents to remain at least 300 feet away from any plows attempting to clear snow from the roadway.

As of 12 p.m., heavy snow and wind have knocked out power to thousands of customers in Connecticut.

Eversource is working to restore 1,700 outages throughout eastern Connecticut, mainly throughout the New London, Windham, and Tolland counties.

Sparse outages have also been reported throughout western Connecticut. Small clusters of neighborhood outages stretch from Hartford County down to Fairfield County. Eversource said these outages mainly affect single homes or small groups of homes in the single digits.

Eversource currently does not have an estimate for when these outages will be repaired.

In the New Haven area, United Illuminating reports fewer than 100 outages.

PSEG Long Island reports more than 3,500 outages throughout Suffolk and Nassau county, condensed mainly in communities near Smithtown Bay and Rocky Point. On eastern Long Island, there are around 500 outages interspersed throughout Southampton and East Hampton. Brookhaven and Islip also report small pockets of outages with homes in the low teens reporting a loss of power.

Utility crews estimate that most of these outages will be fixed by the mid- to late afternoon.

Governor Ned Lamont has banned all tandem tractor trailers and empty tractor trailers from traveling on all limited access highways due to the winter storm.

Limited access highways are those designed to carry large volumes of traffic at generally high speeds and have controlled access with on and off ramps.

“During the peak periods of the storm, we are anticipating treacherous conditions that will make travel very difficult,” Lamont said in a statement. “We’ve consulted with our neighboring states and have decided as a region that it’s in the best interest of safety to enact this travel ban on tandem tractor trailers and empty tractor trailers during the duration of the storm.”

New York and Massachusetts have implemented similar bans on their roads during the storm.

Snowy travel conditions have reduced visibility on Connecticut roads, as the state expects to receive between 5 and 8 inches of snow Tuesday.

Metro-North is operating on a modified schedule.

The city of New Haven is working to clear more than 200 miles of roadway due to Monday's snowstorm.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker is urging residents to stay off the roads during the cleanup.

“Parks and public works, fire, police, everyone is working really, really hard to keep our residents safe," Elicker said. "Just be kind, be kind to your neighbors and look out for one another. Take a moment to shovel your neighbor's sidewalk if they're not able to do so.

"We need a lot more kindness in this world. And there's an opportunity with the storm to do so.”

The city and the rest of coastal Connecticut will receive between 5-8 inches of snow.

New Haven Public Schools, as well as before and after school activities, are closed.

Metro-North is operating on a modified schedule.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is urging residents to stay home during Monday’s snowstorm.

Some parts of the state are expected to see a total of 18 inches of snow — with 5-8 inches expected on Long Island.

“We are in for this once again," Hochul said. "People have been accustomed to a fairly mild winter, so take all the necessary precautions. Stay tuned to your news.

If you can work remotely, that's great. Make sure that our roads are clear for the plows as always.”

She said the snow on Long Island is expected to be “heavy and wet.” Winds gusting are as high as 35 mph.