First Nor'easter of the Season Expected to Drop Foot of Snow| 04:18PM / Thursday, December 15, 2022 | |
There's a Nor'easter headed our way and cancellations and snow emergencies are piling up here at iBerkshires.
The latest weather report is forecasting 6 to 12 inches of snow falling across the region from around 7 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday at 10 a.m. The storm may also bring rain, sleet and strong winds into the region.
Closings and cancellations:
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The Adams Free Library will be Friday and Saturday.
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Art exhibit reception Friday at the Solomon Wright Public Library in Pownal, Vt., is postponed.
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McCann's Thursday night basketball game is canceled and all varsity, JV and hockey practice.
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All South Berkshire Regional activities including School Committee canceled Thursday; middle school concert moved to Monday.
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Next day trash services in Pittsfield will be delayed one day. Friday's route will be picked up on Saturday.
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Boys & Girls Club closed Friday.
Snow emergencies have been declared in Adams, Clarksburg, Dalton, Lenox and North Adams so far, meaning there should be no parking on the roads from Thursday night through Saturday morning. Pittsfield has also declared a snow emergency and the street parking schedule is as follows: Parking on the odd side of the street from 7 p.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday, and even side parking from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday. The McKay Street parking garage will be open for free parking beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday; no parking overnight in other municipal lots.
A winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., for the Berkshires, eastern New York, Southern Vermont and parts of northwest Connecticut. A total snow accumulation of 4 to 10 inches is expected across the northern Taconics and Western Massachusetts. Snowfall accumulation will be greater in the higher elevations.
The state Department of Transportation is advising the public to plan ahead especially if traveling Friday in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Forecasters are predicting very heavy snowfall rates which will make travel in some parts of Western Massachusetts, especially Northern Berkshire County, very difficult throughout the day on Friday.
The storm system will travel west to east with accumulating snow up to 12 in some areas predicted in Franklin, and Hampshire counties, and up to 24 inches in parts of Berkshire County with mostly light and heavy rain for eastern regions of the state. MassDOT has approximately 3,600 pieces of state and vendor equipment available should it be needed.
"The weather should be monitored closely if you are planning to travel on Friday in Western Massachusetts," said MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "Roadways are expected to be very slippery at times in many areas West of Worcester especially in Northern Berkshire County where very heavy snow accumulation is expected. Please plan ahead and make smart decisions about travel in these areas."
National Grid said it is preparing for the storm to potentially impact its customers in Massachusetts. The primary concerns associated with this storm are accumulations of wet heavy snow and gusting winds expected to impact the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden. The wind gusts and accumulation of heavy snow have the potential to damage trees and knock down power wires, causing power outages across the region. More than 300 field-based crews and about 1,000 personnel are on call as part of its emergency response operations.
“National Grid is monitoring the forecasts closely and we have crews and personnel in place across Massachusetts ready to respond as quickly and safely as we can,” said Tanya Moniz-Witten, vice president of New England Electric Operations.
The utility reminds people to sign up for text alerts, report outages, stay away from downed wires, and make preparations if the power does go out by having water and fully charged devices available. Generators should be operated outdoors and the main breaker shut off.
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