Saturday, February 9, 2013
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 …
Friday, February 8, 2013
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 …
Not all meteorologists accept the name game, or acknowledge this storm as Nemo.
You've probably heard occasional—but perhaps not frequent—references to this winter storm as "Nemo." While it makes for some good jokes about that cute little orange fish, Nemo is not the brainchild of the Disney Corporation, but rather, a pre-determined name The Weather Channel gave to this latest storm. If you missed it: The Weather Channel in November announced it would name "noteworthy winter storms" in the 2012-2013 winter season. Sure, snowstorms have been informally named after the fact (remember Snowtober?) This is the first season, however, that The Weather Channel is naming them as it does hurricanes and tropical storms. The rationale? According to the Weather Channel, names raise awareness, make it easier to follow a weather …
A blizzard warning is in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9.
OK, so that two feet of snow we were preparing to get last night? Better add another foot to that. The National Weather Service on Friday morning adjusted its predicted snowfall totals to three feet. The timing of the snowfall is roughly the same: with light snow falling in Worcester, Middlesex and Norfolk counties Friday morning, and becoming heavy later in the afternoon and into the Friday evening commute. So, as WHDH meteorologist Jeremy Reiner notes in his blog, you have a "few hours left this morning" to run some errands, but travel will deteriorate this afternoon. By 7 tonight, most towns will have 2 to 4 inches, Reiner predicted. The storm should be the worst from 7 p.m. Friday to noon tomorrow, when snow could fall at a rate of 2 …
Check back throughout the day for storm updates relevant to Westwood.
Check here for updates from Patch, public safety personnel and residents as Massachusetts rides out the Blizzard of 2013.
New England may be in shutdown mode as a giant blizzard barrels through the area, but the conversation is alive and well on Twitter and the rest of the Web. Follow our live chat from Friday morning through the duration of the storm for updates in your neighborhood and around the rest of the state. Patch editors will provide continuous updates, and Twitter feeds from public officials, safety personnel and residents will let you know what's happening outside your window. If you'd like to ask a question during the chat, simply add it in the comment section above. We can't get to every question but will try our best to provide as much information as we can.
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 …
Westwood schools were originally going to be released early Friday; the superintendent decided Thursday night to cancel school.
Westwood Public Schools have no school Friday, Feb. 8, because of the impending blizzard. The district originally announced school would be released early, but canceled classes in response to Gov. Deval Patrick's directive. The following is a letter released on the district's website: For Westwood-centric updates and cancellation notices, bookmark our storm center hub on Westwood Patch.
We could see two feet of snow.
If you've been talking about what a calm winter we've had, you've spoken too soon. Just a couple days after the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78, New England is expected to get a blizzard this weekend. Eastern Massachusetts, including Westwood, could see 2 feet of snow, the largest snow accumulation since 2010. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch for Friday morning through Saturday afternoon. We could see snow falling at 3-to-4 inches per hour and wind gusts of more than 20 miles per hour. Light snow is expected to develop Friday morning, becoming heavy in the afternoon: with final accumulation of 18 to 24 inches by Saturday afternoon. “I think it's time to prepare for the biggest storm since December 26th and …
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 ›