BOSTON (AP) — A storm that could drop a foot or more of snow in some places is hammering Massachusetts.
The snow hit western portions of the state in the pre-dawn hours today and arrived in Boston just in time for the morning commute.
Six to 12 inches of snow is expected around Boston, with 3 to 6 inches in southeastern areas before changing to sleet and rain. Higher elevations in western Massachusetts could see up to 15 inches.
Many communities including Boston, Worcester, Springfield closed schools. Westfield schools had a planned day off for teacher inservice. Also closed today are Westfield City Hall, the Westfield Council on Aging, the Westfield Athenaeum and the Westfield Boys & Girls Club. Southwick town offices will have no meal program.
The state’s utilities say they are preparing for the possibility of more power outages than in earlier storms this winter, because today’s snow is expected to be the wet and heavy type that weighs down power lines and tree limbs. Outages were minimal midmorning.
The snowstorm has prompted Gov. Deval Patrick to tell all non-essential state employees working in the executive branch to stay home.
Since the storm is making driving treacherous, the state’s trial courts have also been closed for the day and many colleges have canceled classes, including Westfield State University.
Boston’s Logan International Airport remains open, but airport officials say flights in and out are being canceled and urged travelers to check with their airlines.
The state’s emergency management bunker in Framingham has been placed on partial activation.
