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Winchester officials closed public schools and municipal buildings and announced a townwide parking ban Sunday afternoon ahead of a powerful blizzard forecast to move into eastern Massachusetts, with forecasters warning of heavy snow, damaging wind gusts and near-zero visibility that could make travel dangerous or impossible through Monday.
The parking ban is scheduled to take effect at 10 p.m. Sunday and is expected to remain in place for at least 24 hours to allow plow crews to clear streets. All vehicles must be removed from public ways. Residents needing off-street parking may use the lot across from Town Hall or the Abjerona lot near the Post Office, but vehicles must be cleared from those locations by 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Winchester Public Schools announced Sunday that all schools will be closed Monday, Feb. 23, citing the forecast and safety concerns for students and staff. Municipal buildings also closed in advance of the storm.
The National Weather Service’s most recent short-range forecast discussion, issued at 3:22 a.m. Sunday, said blizzard conditions are expected along the Interstate 95 corridor, including the Boston area. Snowfall rates could exceed 2 to 3 inches per hour at times, with wind gusts between 40 and 70 mph creating significant blowing and drifting snow.
Forecasters said totals of 1 to 2 feet are possible across eastern Massachusetts, with the heaviest snow forecast to fall late Sunday night through Monday.
Officials urged residents to avoid nonessential travel during the height of the storm and to prepare for possible power outages caused by heavy, wind-driven snow. Conditions are expected to improve Tuesday as the storm pulls away, though cleanup efforts could continue for several days depending on final snowfall totals and wind impacts.
Will Dowd is a Massachusetts journalist who covers municipal government and community life for Winchester News. He runs The Marblehead Independent, a reader-funded digital newsroom.
