Real winter weather ushered out the last day of 2008 on Wednesday as a rotten mix of icy snow, mean wind and bad visibility made driving a dangerous chore throughout Berlin for those who ventured out.

Temperatures hovered around 25 degrees Fahrenheit, but with the wind chill, it felt more like 10.  The forecast said the storm would taper off by midnight and bring in a clear sunny morning for New Years Day.

Pedestrians, drivers, town crews and the few folks who came out to shovel contended with gusting winds and at times near white-out conditions. Along Farmington Avenue and New Britain vehicles fishtailed at nearly every turn as snow plows worked to keep up with the steady precipitation.

More snow was predicted for Friday,