If you haven’t yet bought ice melt and secured snow shovels, you may want to start. A snowstorm dubbed “Winter Storm Nemo” is scheduled to hit Boston Friday and could leave the city under 2 ft. of snow, according to the National Weather Service. NOAA also forecasts winds as high as 55 mph for Boston and surrounding areas, as well as possible coastal flooding.
Snow will begin to fall tomorrow morning after 8 a.m. and will continue to fall into Saturday. NOAA predicts the storm will taper off by 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
In a press conference yesterday, Mayor Menino encouraged residents to pay close attention to changes in the weather report and ensured listeners that the city was prepared for Nemo’s arrival.
“This is a very serious storm that is developing,” Menino said. “Safety is our number one priority, and my snow team will continue to monitor the situation so that Boston is ready for whatever comes our way.”
Logan Airport and Amtrak services to the Northeast are already beginning preparations for the storm. Logan encourages all passengers to check their flight status before going to the airport this weekend, while Amtrak is increasing their engineering and transportation staff between Boston and Washington, D.C.
"Usually what we know historically, in addition to large amounts of snow, there are projected high winds, downed tree branches, problems with switching and signal systems,” said Amtrak spokesperson Cliff Cole. “In the past, we've scaled back or canceled service…if we don’t feel a train gets people from point A to point B, we won't start them and stop them in the middle.”
Boston residents are taking the storm seriously, visiting local grocery stores to stock up on food and supplies. An employee at Shaw’s McGrath Highway location reported bigger crowds and longer lines than she would see on a typical Thursday. Blanchard’s Liquors in Brighton has also seen increased traffic.
“From what I hear, it’s been busy all morning,” said Blanchard’s employee Mike Leary. “It’s been slammed.”
If you’re not sure what supplies you need to prepare for the incoming storm, we’ve got you covered — here are some of the most important items the Red Cross recommends keeping on hand.
Red Cross Recommended Supplies
Visit the Red Cross’ site for more tips on how to prepare for Winter Storm Nemo.
