Massachusetts

Storm Batters Bay State With Heavy Snow and Strong Waves

From Cape Cod to Berkshire County and everywhere in between, Massachusetts residents are feeling the effects of a powerful winter storm.

The National Weather Service says wind gusts as high as 79 mph were reported in Wellfleet Tuesday. It initially said Worcester had reached blizzard conditions, but later said the city had fallen short and said Lawrence had experienced a blizzard for four hours.

More than two feet of snow was possible in western Massachusetts. Rain and sleet kept snow totals lower in Boston and along the coast.

Waves crashed over seawalls during the afternoon high tide, but there were no immediate reports of major flooding.

Winds toppled trees and power lines across Massachusetts. Utilities reported about 54,000 customers without power by late evening.

One tree fell that fell onto a home in Hingham caused major damage but fortuntely, no one was injured.

Utility crews from as far away from Canada came to help up with the downed lines, some of which fell on an elderly and disabled housing complex in Methuen.

While the storm was expected to taper off Tuesday night, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said city schools would remain closed Wednesday.

The MBTA managed to run on a normal schedule in the middle of Tuesday's storm with the exception of some buses that had to be put on snow routes.

MBTA officials said days of prepping and new pieces of modern snow removal equipment helped keep things running smoothly.

"The train has been working very well. I'm actually quite surprised that's why're running as many trains as they are," said commuter Maggie Rivers.

Chris Ciccone, who works near Boston Children's Hospital, said his ride into Boston from Plymouth felt like any other workday commute but he had only one complaint.

"I think they've done a pretty good job. I was looking forward to getting something from McDonald's but everything is closed," he said.

By late evening, roads got slippery in many areas.

In Natick, Department of Public Works Worker Mark Thompson was focusing on the main road and then side streets.

"It’s still a lot of snow on the back roads, it’s a little slippery," he said.

His goal was to try and get it all cleaned up before everything froze.

"We are here no matter what. We’re here to the jobs done basically," Thompson said.

As the temperatures dropped, some drivers were out on the roads while trying to take it slow.

"Definitely slow, slow and steady is a good way to put it," said driver Lauren Sullivan.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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