Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/category/more/weather/page/8/)
(Read the latest update on Thursday’s storm here. The expected snow totals have been increased). A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Eastern Massachusetts on Thursday, and the storm could drop half a foot or more of snow on Watertown. The Nor’easter is forecast to hit the area beginning the around 1 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, and continue through the day.
A snow storm will be coming through the Watertown area Friday afternoon through early Saturday. Meanwhile, more precipitation is expected on Christmas, but it is not clear whether it will be snow, rain or a mix. The National Weather Service forecasts up to 3 inches of rain in the area on Friday, turning to freezing rain on Saturday. The snow will begin after 1 p.m. Friday. Ice is possible in the area and likely North and West of I-495 as well as near Worcester and west.
High winds and heavy rain Sunday night into Monday morning caused scattered damage in Watertown and left hundreds without power. The storm, which howled for several hours, knocked down tree limbs and even a chimney, and kept first responders busy all night. Winds gusted over 5o miles per hour in the area. “We were responding to calls all night, all our apparatuses,” said Deputy Fire Chief Tom McManus. “Electrical calls, tree calls and we had a chimney come down and do damage to the house next door on Gilbert Street.”
Watertown will not get a direct hit from Hurricane Jose, but the region is expected to feel some of the impact of the tropical storm. The storm, now off North Carolina, is still a hurricane, but will be a tropical storm when it passes near New England. Cape Cod, the Islands and Southeast Massachusetts have Tropical Storm Watches. On Tuesday, the Watertown area could get as much as two inches of rain and winds will pick up to 16 mph, with gusts up to 31 mpg. The real effects of the tropical storm, that could brush the Cape and Islands, will be felt on Wednesday.
An early spring snowstorm will hit the Boston area Friday afternoon through Saturday and Watertown will get a few inches.
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for Eastern Massachusetts from 2 p.m. on Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday. Light snow is forecast to fall in the morning, and get heavier in the afternoon. Some areas could get 4 to 8 inches, but according to the WBZ Channel 4 forecast Watertown is in the area that will get 1 to 3 inches. Temperatures will be around 32 degrees, and winds will be between 14 and 16 mph with gusts up to 28 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
The expected heavy snow storm has caused many closings, cancellations and postponements, plus the Department of Public Works has declared a snow emergency. At 5 a.m., DPW Superintendent Gerry Mee declared a snow emergency for the town. This means vehicles must be off the public roads, or else may be towed. The snow emergency is in effect until further notice. Residents may park in public parking lots, including the municipal lot behind CVS, the Police Station, the Library and the Watertown Public Schools.
Two storms coming together could produce a foot or more of snowfall in the Watertown area Tuesday. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch from 5 a.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday with heavy snow and gusty winds. Local weather forecasters predict between 12 and 18 inches of snow to fall in the Boston area. The WCVB Channel 5 forecast said one forecast model has the MetroWest and Boston areas getting more than a foot. This would include Watertown.
As the snow storm stretches into the second day, and Watertown digs itself out the snow has caused some closings and delays. The Watertown Public Schools are closed Monday, and Monday’s School Committee meeting has been postponed. The meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.
The Mosesian Arts Center announced that Monday night’s Jazz @ The Mosesian performance with Maggie Scott has been postponed. Also, all evening classes and voice lessons Monday have been cancelled.