With a blizzard expected to dump between 1 and 2 feet of snow on the area between 4 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, and the storm threatening winds of up to 60 mph and whiteout conditions, Cambridge and Somerville are issuing parking bans and reminding residents of how to stay safe and helpful.
Snow emergency parking bans go into effect in Cambridge at 9 a.m. Sunday and in Somerville at noon, the cities said. This helps Public Works crews work efficiently and keep emergency routes clear for fire trucks, police and ambulances, Somerville officials noted.
Cambridge expects to lift its snow emergency parking ban at 5 p.m. Tuesday, city spokesperson Jeremy Warnick said Monday. The city of Somerville’s snow emergency will end at 8 p.m. Tuesday, a spokesperson said.
Power outages should be reported to Eversource at (800) 592-2000. Downed wires should be reported to 911.
If travel is required during or after the winter storm, clear all snow from cars – including their roofs – before driving; use extra caution; and leave additional distance between other vehicles and snow crews.
Cambridge administrative offices, public library branches, public schools, Human Service programs and locations, and City Council meetings will be closed or cancelled Monday, officials said Sunday.
In Somerville, it was announced that city offices will be closed physically Monday but that staff will work on snow response and any services that can be completed virtually, and trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day for the full week.
A snow emergency may be declared whenever 4 or more inches of snow are predicted, Somerville said. Officials monitor storm forecasts and “use all available information to make an informed decision that takes into account forecasted snow accumulations, pavement temperatures, poststorm temperatures, the existence of remaining snow from previous storms and other factors,” the city said.
Residents were urged to be good neighbors and to:
Check on seniors or people with disabilities during and after snowstorms, seeing that they have the basic supplies, food and water and medication they need and that they have heat and are safe, especially if there are power outages.
If you are able, consider clearing storm drains in advance of storms or shoveling out fire hydrants after snowfall, always taking breaks when shoveling.
If you have a driveway, consider sharing it with tenants, neighbors or friends to free up spaces on the street.
If you see a neighbor parked wrong for a snow emergency, consider sharing information with them to avoid problems and encouraging them to sign up for alerts sent by city officials and staff.
Cantabrigians can check the city’s Snow Center and follow updates on Bluesky at @cambma and on Facebook at City of Cambridge (Official).
Somervillians can visit somervillema.gov/snowclosures or contact 311 or (617) 666-3311. Government also points residents to City Alerts; City TV (Comcast channels 15 and 22, RCN channels 13, 15 and 613); and city social media including facebook.com/SomervilleCity, facebook.com/311Somerville, instagram.com/somervillecity/ and Bluesky; and the city website. and flashing blue lights activated at 22 key intersections (when lights are flashing, a snow emergency is in effect).
In Cambridge
Entire streets must be cleared of parked cars, but free parking is provided to residents with Department of Transportation-issued parking permits at a few off-street parking facilities beginning at 6 a.m. Sunday. To find these, visit cambridgema.gov/snow. More than 300 vehicles were ticketed and/or towed during the snowstorm in late January, city officials warn.
Vehicles must leave the off-street parking facilities within two hours of the snow emergency parking ban being lifted. To get snow emergency parking ban alerts via email, text message or phone announcement, subscribe to the CodeRED system.
City law requires sidewalks to be cleared of snow by property owners within 12 hours of daytime snowfall and before 1 p.m. when it has fallen overnight. Property owners must also remove or melt all ice within six hours of the time it forms. There is a $50 fine for each day of noncompliance. Residents and property owners are asked to clear snow and remove ice next to their property promptly, and corner properties are reminded that they must shovel and clear ramps at corners near their properties. Uncleared sidewalks can be reported online or by using the SeeClickFix app on a phone. Additionally, the city encourages residents and businesses to clear snow from the nearest fire hydrants and catch basins.
Property owners are asked that when shoveling their sidewalks to please maintain a minimum of 36 inches clear width, so people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices (also parents using strollers) can navigate the sidewalk – and to go 48 inches clear when possible.
Business owners are requested, if there is a disability parking space on the street near your storefront, to please take the extra time to shovel a clear path to that space, so that your customers with disabilities can visit your establishment. In particular, shovel a space wide enough so that vans with lifts can deploy the lift onto the sidewalk.
In Somerville
Move cars to the odd-numbered side of a street unless otherwise posted to avoid ticketing and towing. Beginning at noon, cars will have four hours – until 4 p.m. – to move. Do not park within 20 feet of a corner; cars parked too close to corners may be ticketed and towed.
You may park in city-owned parking lots – but not school lots – starting at noon Sunday. Vehicles left in school lots before 4 p.m. Sunday may be locked in, ticketed and towed.
If you do use city-owned lots, remove cars within two hours of the end of the emergency – which can be at any time, including during work hours.
Bike lanes and cycle tracks will be plowed as part of city snow removal by specialized tractors, but the city urges caution during and immediately after a storm and consideration of another form of transportation, because bike lanes may have ice and snow buildup.
Brief, temporary closings of Community Path are possible during and after a storm to allow for snow removal. Call 311 or (617) 666-3311 to check.
This post was updated.
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