An ice dam was on the wall of the Church of the Covenant on Newbury Street on Friday.
The first week of March in Boston will look an awful lot like January and February, with yet a another snowstorm rolling into town.
Snow began to fall around 3 p.m. Sunday, with 4 to 6 inches predicted for much of the region.
As of 10:30 p.m., Greater Boston was expected to see up to 4 inches, while the South Shore area could get higher amounts, according to the National Weather Service.
“The main impact of this storm will be snow, unlike some others we’ve had that brought coastal flooding,” said Kim Buttrick, a meterologist at the National Weather Service in Taunton.
It could also set a record snowfall for Boston.
A total of 102 inches of snow has been recorded this winter at Logan Airport. This latest snowfall could push the city’s total to beat a record 107.6 inches set nearly two decades ago in the winter of 1995-96.
“We’re on the cusp,” said Kim Buttrick, a meterologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton. “If [snow totals] don’t break it for this event, it will certainly come close.”
And if this storm doesn’t tip Boston over the edge — no worries — another one is on the way with a light snow expected Tuesday night, Buttrick said.
Norfolk and Plymouth counties, which were among the areas outside Boston that were hit hardest this winter, could see accumulations of 4 to 8 inches, Buttrick said.
“The way the storm system is moving from west to east, the heavier amounts will fall in that corridor,” Buttrick said.
Unlike the light and fluffy snow that has fallen most of this winter, this snow is expected to be heavier, with temperatures expected in the upper 20s, Buttrick said.
“Those temperatures make for a wetter snow,” she said.
And that could exacerbate problems with roofs, Buttrick said.
“Any more loading on roofs will just add to the stresses,” she said. “In the big picture, it’s not a lot, but anything on top of this existing snow load is a problem.”
More than 180 roof collapses have been reported across the state between Feb. 9 and Sunday, according to Peter Judge from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
The snow is expected to stop by 6 a.m. Monday, but the commute will be “slow go,” Buttrick said. Boston Public Schools are on course to open Monday, according Denise Snyder, the director of media relations for the schools.
Transportation officials have been working all weekend to prepare.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has 482 pieces of equipment out statewide. About 120 pieces of equipment are in Boston, pre-treating roads, according to spokesman Michael Verseckes.
“MassDOT has received daily shipments of salt since the previous storm and has access to more than 4,000 pieces of equipment that can be called out on an as needed basis,” he said.
Flights to and from Logan Airport will run at the descretion of the airlines, according to Matt Brelis, a Massport spokesman.
“We’ll have crews out to keep runways and taxis open and safe,” Brelis said. “Please call your airline before traveling out here.”
The MBTA was also planning for what could be another messy morning commute.
“MBTA crews will work around the clock to properly manage any conditions that may arise,” spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.
Empty trains will run on all the subway lines throughout the night to keep snow from accumulating on the tracks and switches, Pesaturo said.
Storm preparation, including engineering work, snow removal, and switch cleaning, is complete on the commuter rail lines, Keolis spokesman Mac Daniel said, and “lines should be ready for service on Monday despite the snow.”
The commuter rail will be running all lines inbound to Boston all night to prevent freezing and extra train sets will be ready to help any disabled trains, Daniel said.
Keolis released a list of MBTA commuter rail trains that will return to operation as part of a recovery plan announced last week:
On the Framingham/Worcester line Train 522 (1:50 p.m. inbound from Worcester) and Train 515 (12:05 p.m. outbound from South Station) will be restored.
On the Old Colony Line service to and from Plymouth will return with Train 064 (2:28 p.m. inbound from Plymouth), Train 066 (7:45 p.m. inbound from Plymouth), Train 065 (12:25 p.m. outbound from South Station), and Train 067 (6:15 p.m. outbound from South Station).
Needham Train 622 (5:37 p.m. inbound from Needham Heights), Train 628 (8:02 p.m. inbound from Needham Heights), Train 621 (4:40 p.m. outbound from South Station), and Train 629 (7:10 p.m. outbound from South Station) will return.
On the Providence/Stoughton line Train 904 (6:56 a.m. inbound from Stoughton) and Train 903 (5:35 p.m. outbound from South Station to Stoughton) will be restored. Service to and from T.F. Green Airport and Wickford Junction will also return.
This is part of a four-part recovery plan that is to unfold throughout the month.
Jacqueline Tempera can be reached at jacqueline.tempera@globe.com. Kathy McCabe of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
No comments:
Post a Comment