School cancelations added to forecast

Sandy Meindersma, Gardner News
·2 min read
4

A "high-impact" winter storm warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the greater Gardner area from 8 pm on Monday to 8 am on Wednesday. Between 12 and 18 inches of heavy wet snow is expected to fall with wind gusts of up to 55 mph.

These conditions will make visibility poor, travel difficult to impossible. The wind gusts and damages to trees and limbs likely and power outages possible.

The rain-to-snow event accumulations will vary across Massachusetts, with north central and western Massachusetts expected to see the highest amounts of snow. A high wind watch has also been posted for coastal locations for Tuesday morning until Wednesday.

A nor'easter with potential to become the biggest storm of the season is due to arrive in Gardner on Monday night
A nor'easter with potential to become the biggest storm of the season is due to arrive in Gardner on Monday night

The exact track of the storm, which is coming up the east coast and called a Nor'easter, has yet to be determined.

Because of the winter's meager snowfall, this storm has the potential to be the winter's biggest storm of the season.

School cancelations

The following area districts have canceled or delayed school on Tuesday and/or Wednesday:

  • Ashburnham - Westminster Public - closed Tuesday

  • Gardner - closed Tuesday

  • Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School - closed Tuesday

  • Narragansett Regional - closed Tuesday, 2 hour delay Wednesday

  • Quabbin Regional - closed Tuesday

  • Winchendon - closed Tuesday

  • Mount Wachusett Community College - closed Tuesday

Parking ban declared in Gardner

As a result of the storm and its expected duration, an on-street parking ban has been declared, beginning Monday evening, March 13, at 9:30 pm and ending at 7 am on Wednesday, March 15.

Because the winter emergency extends both overnight and into the daytime, residents will be permitted to park their vehicles in public parking lots throughout the duration of the on-street parking ban.

Emergency phone numbers

Ashburnham Municipal Light Plant

To report a power outage, call 978-827-4423.

Eversource

To report an outage to Eversource, text OUT to 23129. For status updates, text STAT to 23129. Here is the Eversource outage map.

National Grid

To report a power outage to National Grid, call 1-800-465-1212. Here is the National Grid outage map.

Templeton Municipal Light and Water Plant

To report a power outage, call 978-939-5323

Unitil

To report a power outage to Unitil, call 888-301-7700. Here is the Unitil outage map.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Heavy wet snow, winds to pound Gardner Monday-Wednesday