WESTPORT — The town’s public schools will be closed today (Wednesday, Jan. 5), forced to shut down by icy rain causing hazardous road conditions — a change from plans announced earlier this morning to start classes two hours later than usual.

“We have experienced widespread icy conditions in our town and across the region,” Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice said in an 8:22 a.m. email announcing the decision to close schools for the day.

“The conditions rapidly worsened and our town Department of Public Works simply could not keep up with the volume of road issues. 

“We were informed that we could not be assured of safe road travel in town. As a result, schools and offices will be closed,” the schools chief added.

At 6:45 a.m., before travel conditions had deteriorated, Scarice had announced the town’s schools would open on a two-hour delay.

Westport and the rest of southwestern Connecticut are are under a “Winter Weather Advisory” issued this morning by the National Weather Service.

The weather service forecasts freezing rain will cause hazardous conditions through about 10 a.m., with skies remaining cloudy as temperatures later climb to a high in the low-40s.

However, the NWS is warning that several inches of snow could fall over the area starting Thursday night into Friday morning,