Snow Piling Up In Salem; City Hall Closed Thursday

SALEM, 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.

City and public buildings are closed on Thursday. Staff emails and voicemail numbers can found here if residents need to contact them.

"A snow emergency remains in effect and all vehicles should be removed from city streets," Salem officials said Thursday morning. "DPS and their plowing team have had 71 pieces of equipment out on roadways since midnight and will continue to respond to the storm as the day goes on."

Snow-related service requests should be sent by email to snow@salem.com or called to 978-744-3302.

The Peabody Essex Museum announced it is closed for the day.

A snow emergency was declared in Salem as of 9 p.m. on Wednesday with an 11 p.m. declaration for downtown areas. The Museum Place Garage and South Harbor Garage snow rates will go into effect at 4 p.m.

The high school parking lot will not be available until after coronavirus testing is completed at 8 p.m.

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

Salem State University announced Wednesday afternoon that due to the pending winter storm the university will be closed on Thursday for all classes — both online and in-person. Only designated essential personnel must report to work.

The Salem Public Library will suspend curbside pickup on Thursday. Virtual programs will go on as scheduled and staff will be checking email and voicemail throughout the day.

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.