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Winchester residents must remove all vehicles from streets by 3 p.m. Sunday as town officials prepare for a major winter storm expected to dump 12 to 18 inches of snow through Monday evening.
The town issued a parking ban effective 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, and announced all town offices will close Monday, Jan. 26. Vehicles left on streets during the ban are subject to ticketing and towing.
Residents needing parking during the storm may use the lot across from town hall or the Aberjona Lot across from the post office. All vehicles must be removed from those lots by 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The National Weather Service Boston/Norton office issued a Winter Storm Warning for Winchester and much of southern New England from 7 a.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday. The warning cites expected heavy snow with total accumulations of 12 to 18 inches.
According to National Weather Service forecasts, snow is expected mainly after 11 a.m. Sunday and will become heavy at times through Monday. Sunday’s accumulation could reach 3 to 5 inches, with the heaviest snowfall Sunday night bringing an additional 7 to 11 inches. Monday could see another 1 to 3 inches before tapering off, with snow likely continuing Monday night mainly before 2 a.m. with less than half an inch possible.
The weather service warns travel will be difficult due to low visibility and snow-covered roads. The Monday morning commute is expected to be especially challenging.
Winchester’s parking ban mirrors similar emergency measures being implemented across Massachusetts as communities brace for the significant winter storm. The town posted the parking ban notice Jan. 23 and said it would update residents when the ban is lifted.
Town officials did not immediately specify whether the closure affects municipal services beyond town offices, such as trash collection or recreation programs.
Town offices are expected to be closed on Monday, Jan. 26.
The School Department has not officially closed schools, but issued an email to parents, stating that if Jan. 26 is a snow day, the day will be skipped and Winchester High School will continue with its culminating activities schedule as planned.
The storm is part of a major weather system affecting a large portion of the United States starting Friday and continuing into Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. The broader system is bringing snow, sleet and freezing rain across multiple regions, though Winchester falls within the zone forecast for heavy snow accumulation.
Saturday brought extreme cold to the region, with an Extreme Cold Warning issued for western Massachusetts and a Cold Weather Advisory for the rest of the state. Wind chills dropped as low as 25 below zero in some areas.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey directed non-emergency Executive Department state employees not to report to their workplaces Monday and urged employers to consider remote work options where possible. The state activated its Emergency Operations Center in Framingham to coordinate response efforts.
The National Weather Service urges residents to consider delaying all travel during the storm. Those who must travel should keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of emergency.
Winchester residents can monitor the town’s website and alert system for updates on when the parking ban will be lifted and when town offices will reopen.
Will Dowd is a Massachusetts journalist who covers municipal government and community life for Winchester News. He previously co-founded the Marblehead Current and now runs The Marblehead Independent, a reader-funded digital newsroom.
