STORM CENTER: Newton City Hall, Schools Closed; Trash Update

[Updated 12:15 p.m.] City officials announced the trash collection schedule. For those expecting to have collection this week on Thursday, it will now be collected on Saturday. Friday collection will now be Monday. Next week, trash collection will be delayed by one day. 

[Updated: 9:55 a.m.] The Mall at Chestnut Hill will open today, but not until noon. 

The Street's Twitter says: "As of 830 am, Star Mkt, Be Styled, & Sports Club were all open. Some hrs may vary today. Please check with stores before heading out #brrr"

[Updated: 9:50 a.m.] The Newtown Free Library will be closed on Friday, according to it's website. 

[Update: 9 a.m. Friday] A reminder that the city has declared a snow emergency, which means no parking on the street. For snow related requests, residents are asked to utilize the city's online reporting system by visiting www.newtonma.gov and clicking on the 311 icon. The Newton Storm Center line can also be reached by dialing 311 from a landline phone, or 617-796-1000 from a cell phone. 

The Newton Public Schools and City Hall are closed Friday. Trash will not be picked up on Friday, so the normal Thursday pick up will occur on Saturday due to the holiday and the snow.

[Update: 6:20 p.m. Thursday] A blizzard warning has been declared for parts of Massachusetts. Follow the storm on the updated weather map by clicking here. 

[Update, 2:56 p.m.]: Residents are required to clear paved sidewalks next to their home without 30 hours of the storm ending. Elderly homeowners physically or financially unable to clear to the walkways can call 617-796-1660 for assistance.

Need fuel assistance? Contact the Community Social Worker at 617-796-1282. 

[Update, 2:56 p.m.]: Trash pickup will proceed on schedule but with a one-day delay due to the Wednesday holiday. 

[Updated, 1:57 p.m.]: A parking ban has been declared for Newton.

[Updated, 1:07 p.m.]: Newton Public Schools will be closed on Friday, Jan. 3.

[Updated: 12:24 p.m.] The Newton Police warn: Not removing snow and ice from business districts; Putting snow and ice upon streets, sidewalks and bridges are finable offenses. 

[Updated: 11:24 a.m.] Roads are getting slick. Accident reported on Cragmore Road. Newton Police wrote on their Facebook page: "We are getting calls for numerous motor vehicle accidents this morning.  Please use caution on the roads and stay off them if you do not need to travel. Also to the people who are viewing this while driving...put down the phone!"

[Updated:11:06 a.m.] An accident on 128 Northbound near exit 21 in Newton is causing delays, according to scanner reports.

Original Post:

Get your shovels ready, Newton, they will come in handy Thursday - and Friday!

The first storm of 2014 is underway as the initial flakes began falling after midnight on Thursday. During the day on Thursday there will be some accumulation, though much of the snow will come Thursday night into Friday before the storm ends by Friday afternoon.

Below is what you need to know about this week's significant winter storm. We will be updating this storm center article throughout the storm, so be sure to check back throughout.

Current Forecasts

How much snow is Woburn expected to get Thursday and Friday? Here are the projections as of Thursday at 5 a.m.

• National Weather Service: 10-14 inches
• Channel 4, WBZ: 10-14+ inches
• Channel 5, WCVB: 9-15 inches
• Channel 7, WHDH: 8-12 inches
• Channel 25, FOX: 10-14 inches

• Police/Fire EMERGENCIES ONLY dial 911
• Non-emergency police: 617-796-2100
• Non-emergency fire: 617-796-2210
• Service request in the city: Make a request online; dial 311 from any Newton landline or 617-796-1000
• NSTAR: Report an Outage online; (800) 592-2000
• National Grid gas emergencies: (800) 233-5325
• Comcast: (800) 266-2278
• Verizon: (800) 837-4966 (VERIZON)
• RCN: (800) 746-4726 (RING-RCN)