Framingham Enacts Snow Emergency Parking Ban

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham officials have initiated a snow emergency parking ban as a late-season nor'easter could bring up to six inches of snow to the greater Boston area.

The snow emergency parking ban goes into effect starting at 7 p.m., and follows earlier parking restrictions announced by city officials.

"Whenever impending weather conditions indicate a hazard or impairment of transportation, the movement of food and fuel supplies, fire, police, and/or medical services of the Town, the Town Manager, on the advice and counsel of the Director of Public Works, the Police Chief and the Fire Chief shall declare a weather emergency," city officials said in an announcement.

During the weather emergency, drivers aren't allowed to park or stand by their vehicle on these roadways:

• Beacon Street
• Belknap Road
• Bishop Street
• Brook Street
• Central Street
• Cochituate Road
• Concord Street
• Edgell Road
• Franklin Street
• Gates Street
• Grove Street
• Hartford Street
• Howard Street
• Hollis Street
• Irving Street
• Lincoln Street
• Potter Road
• Nicholas Road
• Salem End Road
• School Street
• Summer Street
• Temple Street
• Union Avenue
• Water Street
• Waverly Street
• Winter Street
• Winthrop Street

However, starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, parking ban rules are in effect.

In addition to the parking ban, non-emergency municipal buildings are closed as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, including the Memorial Building, Callahan Building and both libraries.

All public meetings are also canceled.

Schools

An early release schedule has been instituted for Tuesday at Framingham Public Schools, which means all afternoon and evening activities are canceled as well.

Framingham High School students will be released at 10:50 a.m. Middle school students will head home at 11:40 a.m., and elementary school students will be released at either 12:05, 12:55 or 1:05 p.m., depending on the school.

Framingham State University is closed on Tuesday.

What State Officials Are Doing

The National Weather Service early Tuesday updated its snow predictions, moving higher snow totals into Essex County and the Boston area. Meanwhile, new winter storm warnings were set to go into effect at 10 a.m. encompassing all of Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties.

Heavy, wet snow was already beginning to accumulate in the Worcester area as of 7 a.m. Forecasters say snow will spread steadily east Tuesday, dropping up six or more inches in the Boston area — and as much as a foot or more in the Worcester area.

Read more: Snow Forecast Rises In MA, Winter Storm Warnings Move East

The storm was already beginning to take a toll on infrastructure as of sunrise. Some 27,000 residents were without power as of 7:30 a.m., mostly clustered in the Berkshires. On the Mass Pike, 40 mph speed restrictions were in place between Westfield and the New York border.

MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said early Tuesday the storm poses a challenge for road crews because the nor'easter began as a heavy rain, hampering pre-treating efforts.

The MBTA canceled all Charlestown and Hingham-Hull ferry service on Tuesday with very high winds expected along the coast.

Gov. Maura Healey on Monday evening ordered all non-emergency executive branch employees to stay home on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency was planning to open its emergency operations center in Framingham at 8 a.m. Tuesday to monitor conditions.