Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Are you satisfied or frustrated with how the city handled the area’s fifth largest snowstorm in history? Let us know by posting a comment below.
Now that the snow has fallen, and started to melt, it’s your time to rate how the city’s plows handled the more than two feet of snow that fell Friday and Saturday. You can also weigh in on the plowing of city municipal lots as well as the sidewalks and crosswalks the city handles during a storm. Feel free to give praise or thanks, express frustrations or offer up constructive criticism in the comments section below, and keep in mind, the blizzard was the fifth largest snowstorm in New England history. For more local blizzard coverage, check out our Newton Storm Center. Related discussion:
Monday, February 11, 2013
After the Blizzard of 2013 dumped two feet of snow on the area, students will finally head back tomorrow.
After four days off, Newton students will head back to school tomorrow. Newton Public Schools Coordinator of Communication and Community Engagement Megan Smallidge confirmed via email Monday evening that all Newton schools will be open Tuesday, Feb. 12. Newton schools closed down Friday as the Blizzard of 2013 began to move into the region. After the storm dumped two feet of snow on the city, NPS officials decided to cancel school again on Monday to allow the city more time to clear roads and sidewalks. Many parents took to Newton Patch and social media to express their opinions on the school cancellation Monday. Weigh in on our story here.
We've got some rough estimates, but we need your measurements!
There's no doubt about it -- the recent blizzard left quite a bit of snow for Newton to clean up. But how much snow? Although the National Weather Service does not have an exact total for Newton, snowfall amounts have been recorded for several surrounding towns, including Waltham, Brookline, Wellesley and West Roxbury. Averaging the snowfall provided by towns that border Newton (Brookline, Waltham, Wellesley and West Roxbury), the city likely received around 25 inches, or just over two feet. Did you take snowfall measurements in Newton? How much snowfall did the city get? Tell us in the comments section below! In the meantime, here are the snowfall amounts for the nearby cities and towns (provided by the National Weather Service): For …
Police are also urging residents to take caution on the roads today.
If you're out and about in the city today and tomorrow, there's no need to dig through the seat for change. Parking meters will not be in effect Feb. 11-12, according to an alert sent this morning by the Newton Police Department. The Newton Police Department is also advising drivers Monday to use caution while out on the roads. Rainy weather and cold temperatures have created slick roads, which are made worse by the leftover snow and slush from the recent blizzard. For more local blizzard coverage, check out our Newton Storm Center.
Many parents and teachers took to social media Sunday night to express their opinions about Monday's school cancellation in Newton.
After the Friday-Saturday blizzard dumped nearly two feet of snow on Newton, school officials decided Sunday night to cancel school for Monday, Feb. 11. Once the announcement was made, several parents and teachers took to social media to express their opinions on the decision to cancel school. Here's a sampling of what we saw: @ctanowitz: Wish #Newton schools would give a reason for closing schools in the phone message. Parents aren't happy. Cc: @14thVillage @NewtonMAPatch @Mr_Martenis: @ctanowitz @NewtonMAPatch #Newton Teachers are frustrated as well. @dlluce: @Mr_Martenis @ctanowitz @newtonmapatch how about the safety of the children comes first. I think that's the best reason EVER. @traxbrah: #Newton students are happy @NewtonMAPatch @…
Sunday, February 10, 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.
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With rain in Newton's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. While temperatures dropped overnight on Friday resulting in light, fluffy snow, he Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) 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 (MEMA) …
Regularly scheduled service should resume by Monday, according to MBTA.com.
Updated 10:48 a.m. Looking to take the Green Line or the commuter rail in Newton? Well, you may want to keep shoveling out that car (or call a cab). As crews continue to dig out from the blizzard, MBTA service in Newton will remain suspended Sunday. Starting at 2 p.m., limited subway and bus service will run on the Red, Orange and Blue lines between Orient Heights and Government Center, and the Green Line between Kenmore and Lechmere, according to MBTA.com/weather. Limited bus service will also operate on the 1, 23, 28, 39, and Silver Line Washington Street only. Customers are encouraged to stay home and "use service sparingly," if possible, the website said. Commuter rail routes will remain suspended through Sunday. The MBTA weather …
Power outages were minimal during the storm, according to city officials.
The snow is here, and Patch wants to see your photos! Simply click the "Upload photo and video" button below.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Remember, the overnight winter parking ban is still in effect.
City of Newton officials announced this evening that the Newton snow emergency will be lifted as of 8 p.m. Now that the snow emergency is lifted, cars can be parked once again on city streets and in municipal lots. However, officials urged residents to make every effort to stay off the roads, if possible. The regular, overnight winter parking ban is still in effect. Under this ban, cars cannot park on Newton streets for more than one hour between 2 a.m. - 6 a.m. Looking for more weather updates from Newton Patch? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or sign up for our email newsletters. Follow the latest on the storm in the Newton Patch Storm Center and remember to upload your photos to our Newton blizzard photo gallery. (Please and …
Naomi Olson
2:23 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I feel that the plows did a good job. The larger issues were with sidewalks especially at corners, bus-stops and hydrants and with private companies ploughing snow into already cleared streets. The former problem -- which is far more serious -- probably cannot be efficiently solved simply by throwing public funding at it. How can we motivate citizens who own snowblowers to adopt a corner or bus … more ›