Storm dumps early inches

Southeastern Connecticut residents will likely start the new year with another inch or two of fresh snow, as the National Weather Service forecasted an 80 percent chance of the white stuff falling early this morning.

The predicted blast of overnight snow follows a storm that dumped up to 3 inches of snow across the region earlier Thursday after arriving a bit earlier than expected.

In the Thursday storm, police reported more than 100 minor fender-benders and spinouts around the region. State police at Troop E reported more than 50 accidents related to the snow, most of them minor, while Troop F in Westbrook responded to 24 accidents and Troop K in Colchester responded to 25.

Overall, state police reported 350 accidents on Thursday, 41 involving injuries. Police made 16 drunken-driving arrests, 359 arrests for speeding, 49 seat belt arrests, and 687 "hazardous moving arrests," or those for following too closely, making an unsafe lane change, failing to signal and the like.

Norwich police reported the most accidents of any town department, with 25, all of which had happened by 2:30 p.m. Thursday. New London police reported only two accidents.

Almost all of the accidents were reported between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. during the heaviest snowfall, according to reports from departments. No fatalities were reported.

The National Weather Service had a winter weather advisory in effect for New London County until the early evening, then later extended the advisory until 5 a.m. Friday morning for the new system.

Day Staff Writer Amy Renczkowski contributed to this report.