The National Weather Service Boston cautioned New England residents of a “potentially historic” and “destructive storm” with wet snow and wind gusts up to 70 mph Sunday night into Tuesday morning, making for blizzard-like conditions with possible power outages, tree damage and coastal flooding.
Dangerous and near impossible driving conditions are predicted for Monday from 4 a.m. to noon.
All Cape Ann schoolchildren will have an extended February vacation as Monday is a school snow day. After-school activities and athletic events are canceled as well.
Gov. Maura Healey has declared a State of Emergency for Massachusetts, activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) located at Massachusetts Emergency Management headquarters, activated up to 200 National Guard members, and directed non-emergency executive branch employees to work remotely on Monday.
Here is the latest local news:
Parking info
Gloucester’s parking ban starts Sunday at 6 p.m. and runs through Tuesday at 8 a.m. No parking is allowed in the East Veterans Elementary School lot.
Rockport’s overnight parking ban will go into effect for Sunday and Monday nights starting at midnight and will end Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 6 a.m. No parking is allowed on any town streets or roads, or in the center spaces of the resident lot on Broadway, between midnight and 6 a.m. . Additionally, due to the coastal flooding concerns, there will be no parking on T Wharf or in the parking spaces on Back Beach until further notice. Violators are subject to ticketing and towing.
Manchester-by-the-Sea’s winter parking ban will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday and run until further notice. Vehicles left on the street will be ticketed and towed. Parking is available behind Town Hall at your own risk , Brook Street lot, Norwood Avenue lot, and the Masconomo Park lot at your own risk..
Essex’s winter parking ban is in effect through April 1. No parking is allowed from midnight until dawn on any street in town, except the odd side of Pickering Street.
Postponed, canceled or closed
Gloucester city offices and schools are closed on Monday. Trash pickup wiil be delayed one day.
Manchester-by-the-Sea Town Hall will be closed on Monday o keep staff safe and roads clear for public safety and plowing. Also, all trash recycling. and compost collection will be delayed by one day.
Essex selectmen have moved their meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, to 5 p.m. Tiesday, Feb. 24,i n the first-floor conference room in Town Hall. The meeting will likely not be available remotely.
SeniorCare’s Gloucester and Beverly offices will be closed Monday, Feb 23, due to the forecast inclement weather. SeniorCare staff will work remotely and most will be available via telephone or email throughout the day.
MBTA service changes
MBTA subway trains and buses on Monday will operate at reduced levels (similar to Sunday schedules). Customers should anticipate longer wait times between trains and buses, many of which will operate on their snow routes. Mattapan Line service will be suspended and replaced with shuttle buses.
All Commuter Rail lines will operate on their reduced storm schedules, whics can be found on each individual Commuter Rail line webpage at mbta.com.
All ferry service will be suspended Monday. Paratransit users (the RIDE) should expect delays due to road conditions.
People who can work from home are strongly encouraged to do so, but for those who must use transit, the MBTA urges riders to be safe, plan ahead, and allow for extra time. While crews will be working hard to clear snow and ice throughout the transit system, it’s likely that service will also be impacted on Tuesday. People are reminded to use caution on platforms, at bus stops, when boarding/alighting trains, accessing stations, and approaching railroad crossings.
This report will be updated at gloucestertimes.com