Westfield plow operators Bobby Williams and Jim Ruffo work together on storm response. (CITY OF WESTFIELD DPW PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Winter arrived in the northeast like a gale force wind.
The season’s first major winter storm arrived in the form of a Nor’easter (Winter Storm Gail), blanketing the region with a light, powdery snow Wednesday night and Thursday with nearly a foot of recorded in some areas.
Snow totals ranged between 12-16 inches throughout all of Western Massachusetts with higher amounts, locally, according to reports from Westover Air Force Base.
Loader putting the salt in at the Ponder’s Hollow DPW yard salt shed at the start of the storm. (DPW SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Acting Department of Public Works Director Francis Cain said that all of Westfield’s snow contractors, about 45 plows, as well as the 15 plows on the city crew, responded to the weather event.
“It went pretty well,” Cain said, due to advance warning and storm totals in the city being slightly less than predicted.
Cain said it also helped that there was less-than-normal commuter traffic.
“It’s easier for people to take a day off and work from home due to Covid,” he said.
Cain anticipated crews would wrap up plowing by the end of Thursday afternoon, and then return in the evening to put down an ice control product, if needed.
“We were definitely prepared,” Cain said.
Schools were closed Thursday in Westfield and Southwick and remote learning was halted for a day. All Westfield municipal offices and the city’s Senior Center, as well as the offices at WG+E and Whip City Fiber were closed due to Storm Gail’s winter wonderland. – Chris Putz contributed to this article
