Snow Piling Up In Marblehead; Parking Ban Extended To Friday

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Just when you thought 2020 might let you out, many of you got snowed in.

With more than 12 inches of snow possible across the North Shore overnight Wednesday into Thursday, here are some things to know about how the snow might affect you.

A snow emergency parking ban was extended a second overnight into Friday morning.

"Cars cannot be parked on the street starting at midnight tonight until 7 a.m. on Friday," the town said on Thursday. "Cars, trailers, boats left on the street will be towed.

"Thanks for your anticipated cooperation."

The town announced that all municipal buildings will be closed Thursday because of the storm.

Good news for Marblehead students this winter is that while many North Shore districts are switching from hybrid to remote learning on most snow days, Superintendent of Schools John Buckey said in a letter to the school community on Tuesday the town is keeping the traditional day off if a snow day is declared.

Marblehead called off school for Thursday late Wednesday afternoon.

"All schools and school buildings will be closed," Buckey said in making the announcement. "In-person, hybrid and remote learning are canceled, as are co-curricular and athletic activities, practices and tryouts. Be safe and stay warm."

Thursday trash and recycling will be picked up one day late on Friday. Friday track and recycling will be collected on Saturday.

Snow started falling across Massachusetts between 7 and 11 p.m. Wednesday, and by the time it ends midday Thursday, most parts of the state will have been blanketed with 8 to 14 inches, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Boston.

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Snow will be light and fluffy in most parts of the state, but it could be heavier and wetter in southeastern Massachusetts and on Cape Cod.

Cleanup from the storm on most of Massachusetts roads could take longer than usual, MassDOT Secretary Stephanie Pollack said Wednesday. While the state is deploying almost all of its nearly 3,000 pieces of snow-removal equipment, the high rate of snowfall per hour in the forecast and the coronavirus pandemic could mean it will take longer than usual to clear roadways.

Pollack said many local towns that work with MassDOT to clear roadways have worker restrictions related to the pandemic that could cause delays.

Cape Cod will see lower snowfall totals than the rest of the state, with rain mixing in with the snow early Thursday morning. Wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour mean several parts of Massachusetts could see blizzard conditions.

The snow will stop between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday as the storm moves from west to east across Massachusetts.

(Anyone with fun, socially distanced snow photos can send them to scott.souza@patch.com for possible publication. Please include permission for Patch to publish the photos.)

Check back with Patch throughout Wednesday and Thursday for city and storm updates.