As a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain pummeled Massachusetts, dozens of schools tapped out, calling off classes and delaying the start of a cold, messy week. The winter storm, touching down Sunday night and trailing into Monday, didn't pile up the snow high, but it packed enough of a punch to snarl morning commutes and shutter educational institutions.
The troublesome weather led to a slew of school closures, including Fitchburg and Worcester, and affected numerous other communities while it straddled the freezing mark, NBC Boston reported. "You've got a heavy, wet layer of snow on the ground, followed by freezing rain, then more snow," NBC Boston elaborated. The slick conditions made for hazardous driving, even on roads that saw a plow's touch – the stubborn snow clinging fiercely to the asphalt.
The state's Department of Transportation wasn't caught napping, though. They'd sent out an armada of trucks and equipment to tend to the treacherous roads. However, reports of snowy and icy conditions, particularly on the Massachusetts Turnpike, and trouble spots along the Route 2 and Route 3 corridors, underscored the storm's disruptive impact.
Meanwhile, Boston 25 News noted that regions like Northern Berkshire and Northern Worcester were bound up in a winter storm warning, with other areas like Eastern Hampden ensnared by a winter weather advisory. The result? Slick travel on the roads and a day best spent indoors for students and weary commuters alike.
The storm's most severe moments have passed, leaving behind flurries and the promise of clearer skies. As temperatures southeast nudged above freezing, road conditions markedly improved, easing the burden on the Monday morning gridlock. For the most part, the tempest had abated, leaving Massachusetts to thaw out and resume its weekday rhythm.
