Due to the storm, winter parking bans are in place on Cape Ann, while events have been canceled.
Extreme cold air will follow the snow on Sunday, with wind chills as low as -20 degrees. Warming centers will be open in Gloucester, Rockport, and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
In the event of a power outage, please contact National Grid at https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/ to report an outage.
Gloucester and Rockport officials remind property owners that per by-law, sidewalks should be cleared of snow immediately following the storm.
Gloucester
The city’s parking ban’s starts at noon Saturday, Feb. 7, and ends at 8 Saturday night. All cars must be removed from school parking lots by 10 p.m. Saturday to ensure proper snow removal before school resumes Monday. No parking is allowed in the East Veterans parking. Check city website, gloucester-ma.gov, for updates.
Warming centers are open to provide a safe, warm place to escape the cold. They are:
— Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave.: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
— The Grace Center, 264 Main St.: Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing meals, showers, and more.
— West Gloucester Trinity Congregational Church: CALL 978-283-2817 for access.
Support for the unhoused is ongoing. Reach out to Action Inc., The Grace Center, or One Stop/North Shore Health Project if you know someone who needs help getting out of the cold.
Canceled: The Essex-based Cape Ann Political Action Committee’s forum for 5th Essex District candidates, which was to be held Saturday morning.
Rockport
An overnight parking ban will go into effect starting tonight at midnight and will end Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6 a.m. During the winter parking ban there is no overnight parking allowed on any town streets or roads, or in the center spaces of the resident lot on Broadway. Violators are subject to ticketing and towing.
Because of the snow conditions, the Rockport Transfer Station closed at 11 a.m. Saturday. It will open normal hours Tuesday.
The Rockport Police Department Community Room will open as a warming center Sunday, Feb. 8, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents will be able to warm up and charge devices. Food is not provided. If this is extended, notice will be provided.
Essex
The winter parking ban is in effect through April 1. No parking is allowed from midnight until dawn on any street in town, expect the odd side of Pickering Street.
Manchester by the Sea
In Manchester-by-the-Sea, a parking ban began at midnight Saturday and remain in place until further notice, or until the blue emergency lights placed at select intersections throughout town are turned off. When the lights are switched on during weather emergencies (ie. snow storms), street parking is prohibited.
Off-street parking is available in the municipal lots behind Town Hall, on Norwood Avenue, and at Brook Street Field.
The blue lights are located at the following locations:
— Police Station.
— Pleasant Street at Pine and School streets.
— Bridge and Harbor streets.
The town’s warming centers is Town Hall and the Police Station will be open to residents to charge devices and get out of the cold.
Town officials encourage residents to charge devices, keep vents clear, and avoid travel during the storm of possible.
This story will be updated at gloucestertimes.com.