An anticipated one to two feet of snow is expected to fall on the Boston area between midday Sunday and Monday evening, part of a giant storm that will stretch all the way from Texas to Maine. Some two thirds of the nation’s population will be affected by rain, snow, and/or ice.
Camberville is no stranger to snow – people still tell stories of the infamous blizzard of ’78, or the record-setting President’s Day storm in 2003 that dumped 27.6 inches of snow on Boston and its environs. This weekend’s snowstorm likely won’t set any records, but it won’t be one to shrug off, either.
The storm is being caused by a disrupted polar vortex, the band of cold air that encircles the Arctic in winter, said Judah Cohen, a climatologist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That shift drives cold air south and brings warm air north, and with it “an increase in the probability [of] severe winter weather, that includes extreme cold and snowstorms,” Cohen said. He added that such weather “is distributed across the entire hemisphere.”
Storms like these indicate longer-term patterns, Cohen said, driven by climate change’s weakening of the polar vortex. Cohen’s research focuses on how this affects snow patterns particularly, he said it will have related effects.
“Ice, with the cold that follows, that could be really very risky or hazardous for not just infrastructure, but also humans,” he said. Greater Boston area could see an increased risk of flooding if tides are high, although that risk may be blunted by the fact that the next full moon isn’t for another week.
Another risk will come after the storm, in the form of increased risk of heart attacks from the strain of snow shoveling – whether it’s clearing the sidewalk or digging out your car. The American Heart Association cautions that the risk is highest for people who don’t regularly exercise, especially men.
In preparation for the storm, local nonprofits and shelters are making their preparations to protect vulnerable communities. Assuming weather projections are correct, this will be the biggest storm since the Transitional Wellness Center closed over the summer.
Salvation Army asks for help
Nonprofits like the Cambridge Corps of the Salvation Army are tasked with filling in the gap for those in need of a warm place to wait out the storm. Their day shelter will have expanded hours from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Sunday; they will be providing breakfast, lunch, hot drinks, and access to showers during that time.
According to Trisha Smouse, Commanding Officer of the Cambridge Corps, the Salvation Army would appreciate both financial and material donations in the run-up to the storm. It expects a particular need for coffee, tea, snacks and sugar, as well as items to keep warm, like scarves, hats, socks, sweats, and even handwarmers.
The Winter Warming Center on Green Street (entrance behind the Cambridge Senior Center) will operating at expanded capacity, increasing the number of mats available for overnight stay from 35 to 45 and offering transportation to an indoor location while the shelter is closed during the day.
A massive snow removal operation is likely to be on the way for the Cambridge Department of Public Works. While the city uses salt brine to de-ice roads on a regular basis, snow is still expected to accumulate. One challenge the city will experience is where to put such a large volume of snow. Jeremy Warnick, the city’s media relations director, noted that Cambridge has a “snow farm” location at Danehy Park and it will haul snow there if needed.
“Historically, we only conduct snow hauling when we have six [or] more inches. We have potential alternatives outside the City, if more capacity is necessary,” Warnick said in an email.
The state declared on Friday afternoon that non-emergency Executive Department personnel should not come into the office on Monday, but should telework if possible. As of publication, the Cambridge Public Schools had not released plans for school on Monday, whether it would declare a snow day, opt for online learning, or operate as normal. Lesley University on Thursday night sent an email to students who live in residence halls saying the dorms would be open as of 7 a.m. on Sunday so students could move in before the “impending snow storm.” Students would not be allowed in before that time. Harvard University did not immediately respond to requests for information about its plans for the storm. Both universities start their spring semesters on Monday. MIT’s semester begins Feb. 2.
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