Monday, February 11, 2013
Light, fluffy snow on rooftops can act as a sponge for rain, which is in the forecast for Monday. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency offers these tips.
With rain in the region's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency warns that fluffy snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing rain and adding additional stress to structures. Relatively flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, MEMA says. In other cases, roof ice dams have formed causing water build-up, leading to interior damage. These conditions can accelerate the snowmelt. To minimize the risk of over-stressing a building roof due to accumulated or drifting snow: Information from a release by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency was used in this report.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Our local weather specialist says our "next bit of winter weather" is coming Monday morning.
It ain't over yet. Jim Arnold, weather specialist with Shrewsbury Emergency Management, said it looks like our extra bit of winter weather is arriving Monday morning in the form of snow, sleet, freezing rain .... and then finally rain. "A warm front approaching from the west and southwest late tonight and tomorrow will bring a wintry mix of precipitation beginning around dawn Monday and continuing throughout much of the day," said Arnold. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory, corroborating Arnold's predictions with a forecast that also calls for freezing rain and sleet. The advisory is in effect from 6-11 a.m. on Monday for Southwest Massachusetts. "Once again, we have cold air well established and it will take…
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Browse through your neighbors' photos, and add your own!
When the snow started falling Friday, we began collecting photos from the storm. Let's build on our gallery of photos that show how the blizzard impacted Westwood! If you snapped some pictures or shot some videos, share them here. Just click the "upload photos and videos," button above.
The Saturday suspension of mail delivery debate applies to today: but not because of USPS budget problems!
You may be wondering if there'll be any new mail in your mailbox today (that is, if you can even make it to your mailbox, with all this snow.) The answer is that mail service in all of New England — not just Massachusetts — has been suspended, according to the Huffington Post. The ban extends throughout all six New England states. The unusual decision was made due to safety concerns, according to Postal Service spokeswoman Christine Dugas. The decision came after over two feet of snow falling throughout much of New England made many roads impassable, she said. Dugas reminded people to clear around their mailboxes or paths to their homes by Monday, when mail delivery will resume.
Bookmark this page for local updates as we make our way through the storm.
Editor's note: Westwood-centric updates on the blizzard (cancellations, emergency notices) will be posted here. *Update, 1 p.m., Feb. 9: The travel ban for non-emergency residents will be lifted at 4 p.m. Saturday. *Update, Saturday morning: snowfall totals for the region so far range from 14 to 18 inches (snow drifts make it appear like more in some areas). In Westwood, power outages haven't been a major issue so far, with only two of NStar's 5,618 customers out as of 8:30 a.m. *Update: Westwood Emergency Management Director Michael Jaillet declared a snow and ice emergency for the town until 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, "to facilitate snow and ice removal." "Parking on town ways is hereby prohibited during the period of the emergency and …
Bookmark this page through the weekend for the latest you need to know about the storm in Westwood.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Winds and snow drifts, however, could continue through the weekend.
Snow is falling hard throughout the region and it is forecast to continue into Saturday afternoon. "I still think we'll see accumulating snow throughout the early part of the afternoon, but after 3 p.m., the storm may breath its last breath," wrote WHDH Chief Meteorologist Pete Bouchard in the Channel 7 Weather Blog. The storm will start to pull out to ocean by midday, Bouchard said. The snow will pull away with the storm, but the wind will pick up. "Blowing and drifting will be issues through early Sunday," wrote Bouchard. When all is over with, the National Weather Service is predicting, the storm will have dropped about two feet of snow on the area. Those totals were lowered from Friday morning predictions.
Governor Deval Patrick has declared a State of Emergency, but what does that mean?
Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency today banning car travel after 4 p.m. According to information from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, a state of emergency can involve different measures and does not always affect travel or private businesses. There may be a request for drivers to stay off the roads and for businesses to change their hours, but the governor may also order roads to be closed to non-emergency traffic. There has not been an ordered ban on travel since the Blizzard of '78. Violators could be fined up to $500 and be sentenced to a year in jail, although Governor Patrick says the main purpose is to get non-essential people off the roads. The state of emergency does not mean the state will …
Check back throughout the day for storm updates relevant to Westwood.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Snow from this possibly historic storm is predicted to become heavy during the Friday evening commute.
Are you ready for what could become the biggest winter storm since 2003? A blizzard warning is in effect from 6 a.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday. This "potential historic winter storm," is expected to drop 18 to 24 inches of heavy snow over Westwood and the surrounding towns, according to the National Weather Service. Drawing comparisons to storms in 2005 and 2003 (22.5 inches and 27.5 inches in the Boston area), WHDH meteorologist Pete Bouchard blogged that this could be "the biggest snowstorm in almost a decade." Light snow will develop by Friday morning and become heavy late in the day, into the evening commute. The heaviest of the snow will fall Friday night into Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Blizzard warnings are …
Danielle Horn
1:52 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
H.Aaron I know that in general, plow crews are asking for residents' patience and are prioritizing the main roads: as the general driving ban gets lifted at 4 p.m., I would expect to see some progress by then. more ›