A bigger snowstorm than most this winter is due Tuesday. (Photo: Kare Wheatley)

From 4 to 8 inches of snow are expected to land Tuesday on Cambridge and Somerville after a winter with snowfalls of just a few inches here or there.

Somerville has a snow emergency beginning at 7 p.m. Monday and is closing its schools and district offices Tuesday as well as canceling after-school and evening school events; no emergency was announced for Cambridge as of 5 p.m. Monday, but Cambridge Public Schools will also close Tuesday.

“Cambridge Public Schools considers several factors when making a decision about closing schools due to inclement weather, namely the severity of the storm and its timing, which have the potential of impacting the safe transportation of our students as well as our staff. The district also consults with the City of Cambridge and other municipal partners prior to making a decision,” said Sujata Wycoff, director of communications for the district, in a 5:05 p.m. email.

Trash and recycling services will also be one day behind for the week in Cambridge, officials said.

(Update on Feb. 13, 2024: The Somerville snow emergency was until 10 a.m. Tuesday. At the direction of Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, “no cars were towed and any snow emergency tickets will be waived due to radical shift in forecast,” the city said.)

During snow emergencies, vehicles parked on streets that are posted with “No Parking During Snow Emergency” signs will be ticketed and towed until the bans are lifted, usually taken to one of the impound lots in Cambridge or Somerville and will be returned only with a hefty payment — usually $120 for the tow and $35 for every day a car is on the lot. The ticket is paid separately.

In Somerville, the emergency means that beginning at 7 p.m., cars will have four hours (until 11 p.m.) to move to the odd-numbered side of the street or to designated city parking lots listed at somervillema.gov/snow. Parking is not allowed in school lots during snow emergencies, and gates will be locked. Tufts University offers free, covered, off-street parking for Somerville residents  in Wards 6 and 7 in its Dowling Garage at 419 College Ave., Medford, but it’s first-come, first-served and vehicles must be registered with the Tufts Transportation Office using the Snow Emergency Parking Form.