Charles Dunlap, director of the Southwick Emergency Management Agency, checks a set of emergency communication radios at the Southwick Town Hall prior to Thursday night’s snowstorm. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD — The new year began with a flurry, and then some yesterday, as the first winter storm of the year touched down in the Northeastern United States.
The snow, which began as light fluffy powder early Thursday, was expected to increase in volume and intensity during the overnight hours into Friday morning, possibly depositing a foot of snow or more in many regions of the state. Blizzard conditions, high winds and coastal flooding impacted parts of eastern Massachusetts.
Boston’s south shore, along with Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, are expected to experience gale force winds in addition to snow accumulation and dangerously low wind chills, conditions generally associated with blizzards.
Madeline McGregor, 7, of Feeding Hills, enjoys her day off from school while sliding at the Southwick-Tolland-Granville High School with her dad Thursday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Public school students throughout the state were rejoicing, and many parents were grumbling, as local school districts gave students an extra two days of vacation.
Governor Deval Patrick ordered all state employees to leave work at 3:00 p.m. Thursday in anticipation of the impending nor’easter.
Colonel Timothy Alben, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, tweeted “Spinouts and crashes are increasing across the state. If you don’t have to be out, please don’t risk your safety” at around 1 p.m., at the same time eastern Hampden County was issued a winter storm warning from the National Weather Service.
Typically issued when an average of six or more inches of snow is expected in a 12-hour period, or for eight or more inches in a 24-hour period, the winter storm warning extended from the town of Brimfield on the Worcester County line west to Southwick and Westfield, excluding the Hilltowns to the immediate west of the Whip City.
The Massachusetts Turnpike was also impacted yesterday, when a tractor trailer truck jacknifed at around mile 40 in the westbound lane near Westfield’s Exit 3 at around 11:40 a.m. according to State Police.
A snowplow operator leaves the former Southwick Department of Public Works yard after refilling his vehicle with salt and sand in preparation of Thursday night’s snowfall. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
While the scene quickly cleared and traffic began moving westbound, a speed limit reduction of 40 m.p.h was put into effect later in the day.
Within Westfield city limits, several minor accidents occurred, but according to Captain Michael McCabe yesterday afternoon, there was nothing major to report, aside from the frigid temperatures.
Charles Dunlap, the director of the Town of Southwick’s Emergency Management Agency, said that while eastern Mass. is getting pummelled, the conditions in Southwick have been par for the course.
Diane Litourneau, of Westfield, fills a five-gallon pail with sand at the Westfield Department of Public Works yard on Thursday afternoon. The sand is free to Westfield residents. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“The snow is drifting, we’re on the edge of it right now,” he said around midday Thursday. “But this is a fairly typical winter storm. We get about two or three of these a year, so we’re just waiting it out right now.”
Following a 4:30 p.m. conference with several state agencies and the National Weather Service, Dunlap said wind chill and another weekend storm are his most pressing concerns.
“A rain storm is predicted Sunday into Monday, and the temperature is expected to be 40 degrees, but if storm drains are covered, there could be local flooding.”
Chris Willenborg, the executive director for the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, who spent over nine years as airport manager at Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, said the weather would be affecting flights into and out of the Commonwealth until possibly the weekend.
“Most airports are open, and their snow removal operations are ongoing,” he said yesterday afternoon. “The City of Westfield is working with the Air National Guard with snow removal (at Barnes) currently, and Pittsfield was also doing it earlier today when I was out there.”
Readers should contact the Massachusetts Port Authority with any questions related specifically to commercial airlines, he said.
Sullivan Webster, of Westfield, is hit by a friend’s sled while sliding at the Southwick-Tolland-Granville High School Thursday.
“One of the challenges is high wind, from a general aviation standpoint. Some operations may not be able to be performed (due to the wind),” he said. “The airports may also close for snow removal. If the snow is light, it gets removed, and then blows back onto the runway. So to clear the runways, it will be an ongoing operation.”
Later in the afternoon, Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik spoke about what city personnel face during “long duration storms.”
“Drivers are the challenge during these storms,” he said. “We have to give them a break eventually before we send them out again. It’s managing sleep schedules for the plow drivers and their families.”
“It isn’t usually a problem for an overnight (storm), but for 30 plus hour storms, it’s a challenge,” he said.
During a 6 p.m. press conference from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s bunker in Framingham, Patrick said that all non-essential state employees should stay home Friday, and that, while a state of emergency hadn’t been declared at that time, the state is treading lightly.
“In effect, we have one,” he said. “So we’re proceeding in that way.”
