A real snow day, at last: Worcester residents take it in stride
WORCESTER — Plows moved up and down the streets of downtown Worcester Tuesday as the snow continued to fall, rapidly heading toward whiteout conditions.
But it would take more than that to keep Rich Carter from his iced coffee, the 32 degree temperatures notwithstanding.
“This is my ritual every day, regardless of rain, snow, shine, anything,” said the IT professional. Living by Worcester Common also makes braving the elements during a short walk to Dunkin’ Donuts a relatively simple matter.
Snow began falling in the city around 8 a.m. Tuesday and continued all day.
“Evening commute will see whiteout blizzard conditions,” said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jay Fink, adding that roads would be particularly difficult by then because sand and salt operations on side streets cannot begin until the rate of snowfall decreases.
The parking ban in Worcester was lifted at 6 a. m. Wednesday. Worcester schools will open two hours later than usual on Wednesday. Some school districts in the region, Ashburnham-Westminster among them, are closed Wednesday.
By early Wednesday, Worcester airport had received 23 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Other areas of the city got less. The weather service said Ashburnham got 32 inches and Royalston 31.5.
Snow totals were heavier in the northern part of Worcester County. As of Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service reported that 29.5 inches of snow had fallen in Hubbardston, 29.3 inches in Princeton, 27.5 inches in Paxton, 25.5 inches Lunenburg, 24.5 inches in Sterling, 24 inches in Gardner, 23 inches in Westminster, Templeton and Leominster, 19.4 inches in Fitchburg, 19 inches in Holden and Phillipston, 13.7 inches in Leicester, 8.5 inches in Auburn, 5.2 inches in Westborough, 4.5 inches in Grafton and 4 inches in Spencer.
Thousands of Massachusetts customers remained without power early Wednesday, with high amounts in Winchendon, Hubbardston and Townsend, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
“The snow is definitely sticking more this time,” commented Kaylee Sherburne, a barista at coffee shop Brew on the Grid in Worcester. Noting that the last two storms were somewhat underwhelming, she said this one “feels worse cause we haven’t had much (snow) this season.”
While Sherburne’s journey from Kelley Square to Brew on the Grid is short enough to not be too difficult, it’s enough for her to appreciate what those with longer commuters were going through, saying many customers, “Are coming from like half hour away or more away.”
Fink said he was glad to see that many seemed to be taking his advice to stay off the roads. He said the Tuesday morning commute was light in general, with only a few crashes. “The steps that we took ahead of time certainly paid off,” he said.
Plows were on the streets about 8 a.m. Tuesday with about 322 pieces of equipment on the road by early afternoon. Fink said they would be working throughout the day and well into the evening. The heavy snow cannot be allowed to accumulate if the roads are to remain open, Fink explained, “so the plows don’t have to push walls of snow,” and risk equipment breakage. So far, he said, he was not aware of any major equipment damage.
Some, especially Worcester's newer residents, welcomed the snow. They included Lexy Diaz, of Arkansas, who moved here in September to pursue her doctorate. The storm hit while her mother, Nancy, was visiting, meaning Diaz could show her a proper nor'easter.
“She’s never seen this level of snow," said Diaz. "She got a real New England snow this time."
"The best thing you can do is stay home," said Fink. Municipal buildings, such as City Hall and the Worcester Public Library, were closed, and Fink urged residents to follow the city's example as much as they can. "Practice your patience," he said. "There’s no place to go. Going out on the road, you are jeopardizing yourself and others on the roads. Tomorrow will be a new day."
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester digs out, with schools on 2-hour delay Wednesday
