As a ferocious winter storm takes aim at Massachusetts, cities and towns brace for impact with a flurry of parking bans and snow emergencies. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning effective from Saturday afternoon through early Monday, expecting significant snowfall to blanket the region, including up to 12 inches in parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, NBC Boston reported.
To swiftly respond to the whiteout conditions, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is deploying 1,175 pieces of machinery statewide to patrol, pretreat, and spread salt. The state is also preparing to see wind gusts soaring to 35 mph. Meanwhile, Governor Maura Healey urged residents to take care of each other. "Please also take some time to check in on your neighbors to make sure everyone stays warm and safe," she told NBC Boston.
In anticipation of the storm, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu assured citizens that the city is well-prepared, although she stopped short of declaring a snow emergency. The timing of the storm, she noted, is likely to minimize its disruptive effects on city life. Despite this, a host of local communities have enacted preemptive measures, with parking restrictions and emergency declarations spanning from Attleboro to Worcester, as detailed by Boston 25 News.
Public transportation is also to adapt to the treacherous weather, with the MBTA planning to run buses and trains on a normal Sunday schedule while dispatching additional snow-fighting equipment to maintain operations. Alongside, various cities including Fitchburg, Quincy, and Watertown have announced snow-related parking bans, advising residents to clear the streets to facilitate snow removal efforts — a testament to the coordinated efforts across the state to weather the storm.
