Belmont Declares Parking Ban Beginning at 6PM Monday

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With a Nor’easter ready to blow into town, Belmont’s Department of Public Works has declared a town-wide parking ban beginning at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26. 

During the ban, NO ON-STREET PARKING is allowed on Belmont street to allow the Highway Division to do a better job clearing the roadways. In addition, no parking is allowed in the town’s three municipal lots – Belmont Center, Cushing and Waverley squares – or in the six public school parking lots.

Vehicles that are in violation of the parking ban will be towed.

The ban will be lifted when the DPW determines Belmont roads are passable.

Belmont Light Asking Residents to be Prepared for Nor’easter

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Here is a press release from the folks at Belmont Light on the pending Nor’easter heading our way.

The approaching winter storm is expected to bring heavy winds and high amounts of snowfall to Belmont. Belmont Light asks its customers to take the following measures to help ensure that they are prepared in case the power goes out:

As advised by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, have enough emergency supplies available to last at least three days.

Essential items include

  • a stocked first-aid kit,
  • prescription medicines,
  • non-perishable foods that do not require no refrigeration (i.e. canned vegetables, soups, meats, or other goods; dried fruits and nuts; granola bars, cereal, and crackers; etc.),
  • a non-electric can opener,
  • water (one gallon per person, per day),
  • baby-care items,
  • extra blankets,
  • sleeping bags and
  • a fire extinguisher.

Also have fresh batteries on hand, along with a working flashlight and a portable radio or NOAA Weather Radio.

Fully charge your cell phone and computers in advance.

If your electricity goes out, call Belmont Light at 617-993-2800 to report the outage.

(Please do not report your outage via email or the utility’s website.)

Disconnect or turn off appliances that would otherwise turn on automatically when service is restored. If several appliances start up at once, the electric circuits may overload.

Remember to protect appliances and electronics from voltage instability or outages caused by storms and momentary power fluctuations. Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems, surge protectors, and surge suppressors will best protect this equipment. These protection devices can be purchased locally.

If your heat goes, keep warm by closing off unoccupied rooms.

If you use alternative heat sources such as a fireplace, woodstove, etc. always make sure you have proper ventilation. Keep curtains, towels, and potholders away from hot surfaces.

Stay indoors during the height of the storm.

Blowing winds – both before and after a blizzard – are cold enough to cause frostbite, and snowdrifts may hide dangers children might otherwise see. Stay indoors where it’s safe, and warm!

If you have to travel in an emergency, try to take someone along with you and be sure you have an emergency kit for your car that includes a flashlight with working batteries; a first-aid kit; blankets or other bedding materials; extra clothing; non-perishables; bottled water; a selection of basic tools like a pocket knife, screwdriver, wrench, etc.; a tow rope; and sand, mats and/or tire chains to help with traction.

If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Report them to Belmont Light immediately. Treat all downed wires as if they are live. Never attempt to move them or touch them with any object. Remember that downed wires can be hidden by snow, tree limbs, leaves, or water. If a power line falls on your car while you’re in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

Should you have any questions or need to report an outage, please call 617-993-2800.

The Three Belmont Phone Numbers You’ll Need During the Nor’easter

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While the likelihood the worst to happen to most people during this coming Nor’easter is battling over what to watch on Netflix, there are specific phone numbers all Belmont residents should keep close “just in case” something beyond the norm does happen.

Of course, for a true emergency in which health and safety are threatened, call 911.

  1. The Belmont Department of Public Work’s Snow Emergency Hotline: 617-993-2698.
  2. To report a power outage to Belmont Light, call 617-993-2800. Do not call 911.
  3. After the storm has ended, if you have a question about street cleaning and other issues, call the Belmont Public Works Highway Division at 617-993-2600.

Latest Nor’easter Update: Yup, A Big, Bad Blizzard Heading to Belmont

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Batten down the hatches, Belmont. A blizzard’s heading’ this way.

The latest information from the National Weather Service, released at 3:53 a.m. this morning, Monday, Jan. 26, is predicting snow accumulations of “around 20 to 30 inches with locally higher amounts.” This nor’easter could match the 27.1 inches of snow that hit Boston in the famous Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978. 

“Those venturing outdoors may become lost or disoriented … so persons in the warning area are advised to stay indoors,” warned the NWS as it issued a Blizzard Watch for the eastern part of the state and region.

While the storm is expected to begin late today and linger into early Wednesday, the worst of the storm will be tonight, Monday, Jan. 26 through Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 27.

And once it starts, the heavy snow – falling Tuesday morning up to 2 to 4 inches an hour – and strong winds will result in white-out/blizzard conditions with near zero visibility.

Winds will be out of the north-northeast at 15 to 25 mph with gusts around 65 to 75 mph with the worst of the winds coming late tonight, Monday, into Tuesday.

“Travel will be impossible and life threatening across the entire region. Also snow may be wet enough to result in downed tree limbs and power outages in addition to the winds,” reported the NWS.

The National Weather Service is advising resident that all unnecessary travel is discouraged beginning after Monday’s commuter rush to allow people already on the road to safely reach their destination before the heavy snow begins and to allow snow removal equipment to begin to clear roads.

Historic Nor’easter Blowing into Belmont From Monday Evening Through Tuesday Night

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A massive Nor’easter will blow into Belmont and the region beginning Monday night and lasting for 24 hours, bringing up to two feet of snow along with blizzard conditions that will make travel dangerous.

“This has the potential to be a historic storm,” noted the National Weather Service in Taunton which issued the Blizzard Warning at 12:34 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25.

The NWS forecast calls for continuous heavy snow and strong winds between 20-to-30 mph with gusts of up to 60 mph to produce whiteout conditions with considerable blowing and drifting snow with the worst of the storm occurring between Monday night, Jan. 26 through Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 27.

The snow may be wet enough to result in some downed tree limbs and power outages. Travel may become impossible and life threatening across the entire region as temperatures will stay in the low 20s.