With deep snow in western Mass., MetroWest braces for possible power outages

Dan O'Brien, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read

More than two feet of snow has fallen in some western Massachusetts communities today in what's been the biggest winter storm for the season. And while MetroWest and Greater Milford have not seen nearly as much snowfall, there's more to come tonight.

According to the National Weather Service, MetroWest and Greater Milford can expect to see 3 to 5 more inches of snow fall tonight. It will also be blustery, with a northwest wind of 17 to 24 mph with gusts up to 31 mph.

Things calm down on Wednesday, as forecasters see a mostly cloudy day with a high of 41 degrees. It will still be breezy, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, and gusts as high as 34 mph.

Ken Pullig, of Framingham, walks as the snow began to fall earlier today at Cushing Park.
Ken Pullig, of Framingham, walks as the snow began to fall earlier today at Cushing Park.

For now, a winter storm warning is up for parts of Middlesex, Worcester, Essex, Hampshire, Hampden and Franklin counties.

But most of the action has been in the state's western section, WCVB-TV reported. By 3 p.m., 30 inches of snow had fallen in Rowe, a northern Franklin County town of fewer than 400 residents.

Outage map:Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

"We are talking about an incredible snowfall here,” StormTeam 5 chief meteorologist Cindy Fitzgibbon said.

Locally, several events scheduled for this afternoon and evening have been either postponed or canceled. Framingham Public Schools announced an early release, as well as the cancellation of all afternoon and evening activities. Other school systems that canceled late-day activities include Ashland, Assabet Valley, Dover-Sherborn, Hopkinton, Lincoln-Sudbury, Mendon-Upton, Milford, Minuteman Regional, Natick and Wellesley.

Ashland Middle School students were among hundreds in the region who had an early release due to the storm.
Ashland Middle School students were among hundreds in the region who had an early release due to the storm.

Framingham State University has also been closed today, except for essential personnel. Students are on spring break.

Framingham City Hall and the two public libraries all closed at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, more than 66,000 customers were without power by 2:15 p.m., according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. No such reports involved MetroWest or Greater Milford, however.

But many could soon come.

Utility provider Eversource said in an email that more than line, tree and service crews were working throughout the state to clear damage and make repairs "as heavy, wet snow and strong winds from the ongoing nor’easter bring trees and limbs down onto the electric system."

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: More snow, power outages expected tonight west of boston