UPDATE via Associated Press- 11:30 am: Amtrak has canceled four trains operating between New York and Boston during the winter storm. However, it said passengers were accommodated on other, closely scheduled trains. A spokeswoman said the cancellations affected Acela Express and Northeast Regional service operating in both directions Monday between Boston and New York. The rail service says it will re-evaluate plans as conditions warrant.
FRAMINGHAM: Transportation was the main focus at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency on Monday, as snow fell at a rate up up to 3 inches per hour in some spots during morning rush hour.
As the snow tapers off this afternoon, it’s still made a mess of the roads. MEMA spokesman Peter Judge says it’s a storm with bad timing.
“Obviously the timing is the issue. With the morning commute and ultimately with the afternoon commute, it’s going to slow things down.”
So far, the roads in Massachusetts haven’t seen major accidents or driver injuries. The Department of Transportation deployed more than 3,000 snow crews to plow, salt and treat roads. The speed limit on the Mass Pike has been dropped to 40 miles per hour. Roads are still slippery, according to MEMA spokesman Peter Judge.
“As the Governor had asked people if they could utilize public transportation today, if they have to go to work, and anyone else who doesn’t have to be on the road, if they could stay off simply because it will give those folks with the plow the opportunity to stay ahead of the storm and make it so much easier for everyone else to get home from work and ultimately get back to normal tomorrow.”
The good news? No major concerns about coastal flooding or power outages. Public safety and security staff are monitoring road conditions and possible power outages.
Snow will continue to fall through the day on Monday, transitioning to periods of rain and freezing rain in the southeast, Cape and Islands late morning into the afternoon, but transitioning back to all snow before winding down Monday evening.
Precipitation will remain all snow in areas north of the Turnpike. Generally, an average of six to 10 inches of snow is expected in southeastern Massachusetts and south of the Turnpike, and an average of 12 inches is expected across the rest of the state, with the potential for up to 14 inches in some areas.
A coastal flood advisory was issued for the South Shore between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Monday for pockets of minor coastal flooding and splash over sea walls.
Temperatures will fall drastically on Monday evening. Wind chills values Monday night into Tuesday down to -24 in central, eastern and southeastern Mass.
