Snow Piling Up In Peabody; Trash Collection Delayed One Day

PEABODY, 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.

Peabody declared a snow emergency parking ban on Wednesday beginning at 10 p.m.

Trash collection will be delayed one day. There will be no trash collection on Thursday, with those typically picked up Thursday picked up on Friday this week, and those typically picked up on Friday picked up on Saturday.

While the storm could be enough to keep kids home from school, it will not keep them off the computer with Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala saying plans are to make most "snow days" remote learning days amid the coronavirus health crisis in winter 2020-21.

He said Wednesday afternoon that will be the case with this storm.

"Due to the impending winter storm, Peabody Public Schools will follow a remote learning schedule on Thursday," Vadala said. "All schools and offices, including Passos Avante, will be closed. Thank you and stay safe."

Snow will 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.