Sunday, February 10, 2013
The heavy snow stopped early on Saturday, but there was plenty of work digging out from under the piles of snow.
[Updated Sunday, 2:20 p.m.] Stores and restaurants that have opened have plenty of business today. The Watertown and Arsenal Malls are both open. A quick survey of town found that Deluxe Town Diner, Miller's Ale House, Uncommon Grounds are open and Strip T's opens at 3 p.m. Still no word on whether schools will be open Monday. [Updated Sunday, 9:35 a.m.] Stores and restaurants are reopening after the storm, but getting there may be a challenge. The MBTA said it would be reopening Monday, but the system won't be running Sunday. The Arsenal Mall opens today at 11 a.m., according to the mall website. Strip T's announced on Twitter that it will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Uncommon Grounds is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parking ban due…
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Will you need help shoveling after the storm? Or, are you offering shoveling services? Let's try and help out our Watertown neighbors during the blizzard.
Will you need shoveling out after the storm? Are you a student looking to make some money shoveling today or tomorrow? The Watertown Fire Department has already suggested that people lend each other a hand during the storm. Let's get a list started of people offering shoveling/plow services. If you are looking to "donate" some shoveling, or even make a few dollars in exchange for a clear sidewalk, let us know. If you know someone who needs shoveling or wants to offer shoveling, have them post in the comment section below!
Friday, February 8, 2013
Thanks to Winter Storm Nemo, Watertown is expecting 24 inches of snow, or more, this weekend! See how many inches have fallen in your area with the LIVE map below.
The map above, provided by the National Weather Service, shows snowfall in the past 24 hours. It is updated every 6 hours. This is not a map showing overall snow depth: It only tracks the amount of snow that has fallen in the past day.
Chief Mario Orangio asks residents to stay off the roads and to clear snow from around fire hydrants.
Watertown Fire Chief Mario Orangio asks residents to take caution and stay off the roads during the Blizzard of 2013. A snow emergency starts at noon Friday and remains in effect until further notice. For more information on the emergency click here. "Residents are urged to remain in doors during the storm and should refrain from driving so that roads can remain clear for snow removal and emergency vehicles," Orangio said in an announcement. "The town asks that you be a good neighbor and to periodically check on elderly or incapacitated neighbors." Residents can help the Fire Department by clearing snow from around fire hydrants on their street, Orangio said. Fire Lt. Thomas Thibaut, president of the firefighters union, urged people to …
The snow is coming, and Patch wants to see your photos!
One of the biggest storms in years will hit Watertown Friday and Saturday, and we want to see what it looks like around Watertown during the blizzard. You can upload your photos of snow drifts and conditions during Nemo, as the storm has been dubbed by the Weather Channel. After the storm, add pics of snowmen, sledding as well as places that need to be shoveled or plowed. The town has a ordinance requiring businesses to shovel their sidewalks, and residents are supposed to clear their walks, too. See a troubled spot, put up a photo and let us know where it is. All you have to do is hit the "Upload Photos and Videos" button above the picture and add your pics. Follow the latest on the storm in the Watertown Patch Storm Center.
Check here for updates from Patch, public safety personnel and residents as Massachusetts rides out the Blizzard of 2013.
New England may be in shutdown mode as a giant blizzard barrels through the area, but the conversation is alive and well on Twitter and the rest of the Web. Follow our live chat from Friday morning through the duration of the storm for updates in your neighborhood and around the rest of the state. Patch editors will provide continuous updates, and Twitter feeds from public officials, safety personnel and residents will let you know what's happening outside your window. If you'd like to ask a question during the chat, simply add it in the comment section above. We can't get to every question but will try our best to provide as much information as we can.
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The Public Works, Police and Fire departments called the snow emergency.
Watertown will be under a Snow Emergency beginning Friday at noon because of the blizzard due to hit town Friday and Saturday. Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee, along with the police and fire departments, declared the Snow Emergency. No end date was announced, so the Snow Emergency will last until further notice. During the ban, parking will not be allowed on the street. Those needing a parking spot can park in municipal lots (including in Watertown Square behind CVS) in school lots, at the Police Station and other locations. See the release below for more information about the Snow Emergency. For up-to-the-minute news on this and other stories follow Watertown Patch on Twitter and Facebook or subscribe to the free email newsletter. …
White out conditions are expected as the storm intensifies.
What began as a blizzard watch for the Watertown area has now been upgraded to a blizzard warning. The National Weather Service issued the warning for the majority of Eastern Massachusetts Thursday afternoon, as it anticipates about 2 feet of snow to descend upon the area Friday into Saturday. "White out conditions are anticipated as roads become snow-covered by the Friday evening commute," the warning states. "Strong north-northeast winds are anticipated with gusts up to around 60 miles per hour, resulting in blowing and drifting of snow. Damage to trees and structures along with scattered power outages are anticipated." Residents can expect the potential of snow falling at 3-to-4 inches per hour and wind gusts of more than 20 miles per …
Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald announced that the schools will be closed Friday.
The Watertown Public Schools will be closed Friday due to the major winter storm heading into town on Friday. The town schools made the list of closings on WHDH Channel 7's website. Follow Patch's Storm Center for more information during the storm, and check out the list of cancellations and closings.
Here's the latest on how you need to prepare for the potential blizzard in Watertown.
Looks like Nemo is going to find us ... (Come on, you knew we couldn't get through this storm without at least one Pixar reference). As the day of Winter Storm Nemo's arrival draws closer, the forecasts aren't getting any less hairy. Looking at a couple of accumulation maps reveals that 16 inches for the Watertown area appears to be the bare minimum. Eighteen inches minimum actually shows up on more maps, and the maximum numbers are at two feet or more. Fox 25 meteorologist Kevin Lemanowicz told Patch via a tweet that he'd recommend people head home by 3 p.m. Friday ("to be safe"), especially if they plan to use the T. If you drive to and from work, plan to be home around noon, Fox 25 Meteorologist Shiri Spear said on a morning newscast. …
Steven Cavaretta
3:07 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Why make the roads drivable BEFORE people could drive? It would make a hell of a lot more sense to clear the sidewalks and bus stops first so that people could at least get food and medicine when they couldn't drive. Guess the good old boys at the WDPW with their brand new town provided yellow trucks never walk or take the bus so they don't care about the residents who do. more ›