Boston streets are gearing up for a wild turn in weather, as forecasts predict a nor'easter could pummel the region with up to a foot of snow today. The National Weather Service warns of a 100% chance of precipitation with potential snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches, as an icy tempest barrels down on Massachusetts.
Taxpayers' dollars are already at work, with the city lining up hundreds of vehicles for road clearing and salting duties once the snow starts to make its landing. Sandbags are being positioned in anticipation of coastal flooding, and in precaution, storm barriers rising several feet have been erected at the aquarium T stop. According to the city's plan, residents and businesses are on the hook too, expected to clear the sidewalks post-storm, while space savers will be in play for about 48 hours after the storm—except in South End and Bay Village—reported by NBC Boston.
On the administration's front, Boston's Mayor Michelle Wu has urged the public to hunker down and avoid non-essential travel. "The bottom line is do your best to stay indoors. If you can work from home, if you can make plans, check in on your neighbors. Make sure that people are OK, and they have what they need," Wu told NBC Boston. Schools along with most public buildings and community centers have preemptively shut their doors in response to the impending weather onslaught.
While chaos brews overhead, mercy is shown by the storm's path slightly shifting away from Boston. However, places like Scituate, closer to the coast, aren't as lucky. James Boudreau, the town manager, reported necessary defenses, including high-water vehicles and barriers, are set up in anticipation of the flooding expected to coincide with students' dismissal time. "We pre-positioned our high-water vehicles from our police and fire in case we have to get people out of these places and then the DPW will pre-position barriers and things like that so that those areas that are flooding will be closed off to keep people from driving in it," he explained to NBC Boston.
Worcester seems to dodge the worst, but Worcester Public Works Commissioner Jay Fink takes no chances. City roads have been pretreated, and about 350 pieces of equipment including plows and trucks are primed to roll out against the snowfall. "I've heard a lot of different things – is it coming in light and fluffy, is it coming in wet and heavy – I'm erring that it's going to be a little bit heavier, maybe not so wet, at least in this area, because we shouldn't see the rain. It's going to be all snow," Fink said in an interview with NBC Boston. Vigilance remains the watchword as Massachusetts braces for the storm's full impact.
