WESTFIELD – Area residents who have been dreaming of a White Christmas will have that dream come true this weekend when a winter storm is expected to blanket the region, although the timing of the storm may not grant school children their wish for another snow day.
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for most of western Massachusetts, with snow beginning early Saturday afternoon and increasing in intensity overnight before ending on Sunday morning. The heaviest accumulation will be in the areas of higher terrain.
Public Works Director Jim Mulvenna said that his department has been preparing for several weeks, readying equipment and stocking sand and salt in anticipation of the region’s first significant snow event.
“We’ve been watching for forecast projections of between six and eight inches of snow,” Mulvenna said, “but it will be a long-duration storm starting around noon Saturday and ending Sunday morning.”
“We’re ready to go. Crews have been working getting the trucks ready and the private plow contractors notified,” Mulvenna said. “The snow removal budget is in good shape because we haven’t spent much on the recent ice storms. We used a little sand and salt, but did that all in-house.”
The timing of the storm, on a weekend, increases the cost of snow removal, but there is an advantage in the fact that many people will stay home during the period of the heaviest snowfall, reducing the volume of traffic typical of a weekday.
“By the end of the day Sunday we’ll be in really good shape,” Mulvenna said.
Mulvenna said an on-street parking ban will be in effect Saturday night and into Sunday as crews continue snow removal work. The heaviest amount of snowfall is expected overnight Saturday and early Sunday.
Cold weather is expected to grip the region following the storm, with subfreezing temperatures forecast through most of the work week.
Southwick’s new Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown has been on the job just over a month but he and his crews are ready to tackle the first snowstorm of the season.
“We are ready to go,” said Brown Friday afternoon. “We have our equipment ready and our contractors are on stand-by.”
Brown said DPW crews will handle the main roads while contracted workers will take care of plowing secondary roads.
“As soon as the snow flies we will be out sanding and salting the roads,” said Brown.
Crews will be working from the start of the storm until after it ends to help clean up.
Since the sidewalks were put in along College Highway there was some debate about who should clear them. Brown said the town will clear sidewalks in front of town property only.
“Businesses and homeowners are responsible to clear sidewalks in front of their property,” said Brown, adding that residents should “stay safe and stay off the roads” during the storm.
