What To Know When The Lights Go Out In Belmont

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Photo: Downed trees could cause electric outages.

Falling trees and and broken branches could cause electric outages throughout Belmont as the region is buffered by a fall nor’easter.

National Weather Service forecasters said that “strong to damaging winds” with maximum gusts of up to 40 miles per hour are expected to peak Thursday afternoon into the evening, especially along the coastline of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The winds are expected to diminish Friday into Friday night.

Below are telephone numbers to keep at the ready during the storm:

Belmont Light (to report outages): 617-993-2800.

The Town of Belmont EMERGENCY HOTLINE: (617) 993-2698.

Unless it is an emergency, do not call 911.

Stormy Weather: Farmers Market Cancelled Thursday Due To ‘Nor’easter’

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Photo: Not this week.

The Market bell will not be ringing in Belmont tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 10. Blame it on stormy weather.

“The Belmont Farmers’ Market for Oct. 10 has been canceled due to the nor’easter coming in,” according to Hal Shubin of the Belmont Food Cooperative.

“The forecast calls for rain and strong winds all day, with gusts up to 40 mph. That makes it unsafe for our vendors, shoppers and volunteers.”

The storm will move slowly and close enough to the Massachusetts coast this week to bring several coastal impacts to the Eastern Seaboard, including rough surf, coastal flooding, heavy rain and strong winds, according to the Weather Channel.

There are three more dates this season: Oct. 17, 24 and 31. The Market is on Thursdays, in the parking lot in Belmont Center, from 2 p.m. to 6 pm.

Belmont In Blizzard’s Sights: Numbers, Websites To Have On Hand For Nor’easter 3

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Photo: Here it comes!

With the third nor’easter in the past two weeks barreling towards Belmont with forecasts of up to a foot-and-a-half of drifting snow and blizzard conditions, residents who were anticipating a day of Netflix and cooking could find their homes in the dark due to down power lines like so much of the Northern suburbs after last week’s storm.

Below are a few sites and phone numbers to keep close-by during the Belmont Blizzard “just in case.”

  • Call 911 only if the emergency is life-threatening.
  • If the power goes out, call Belmont Light’s notification number at 617-993-2800. You can see the location of outages in Belmont on a real-time map here.
  • A question about snowplowing on public streets? Call the DPW’s Highway Division 617-993-2690.
  • Everything you need to know about the storm and town resources can be found online at 
  • Get updates on all sorts of town information at the Belmont Police twitter page, https://twitter.com/BelmontPD, and at the Town Administrator’s site.

Phone Numbers, Internet Sites To Have Handy During the Belmont Blizzard

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Photo: Numbers you’ll need to keep close-by during the blizzard.

With Thursday’s nor’easter forecast to bring a foot of drifting snow and steady sustained winds, residents who were anticipating a day of Netflix and cooking could find their homes in the dark due to down power lines or  localized flooding. 

Below are a few sites and phone numbers to keep close-by during the Belmont Blizzard “just in case.”

  • Call 911 only if the emergency is life threatening.
  • If the power goes out, call Belmont Light’s notification number at 617-993-2800. You can see the location of outages in Belmont on a real time map here.
  • A question about snowplowing on public streets? Call the DPW’s Highway Division 617-993-2690.
  • Everything you need to know about the storm and town resources can be found online at 
  • Get updates on all sorts of town information at the Belmont Police twitter page, https://twitter.com/BelmontPD, and at the Town Administrator’s site.

Parking Ban Ends 6AM Wednesday, Schools’ Start Delayed By 1 Hour

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Photo: Shovel.

Tuesday’s Nor’easter wasn’t as powerful as first anticipated but it did leave a mess around town (including a number of power outages in Waverley Square and Harvard Lawn) and its effect will be felt on parking and schools this Wednesday.

  • The Snow Emergency Parking Ban, which began at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, will expire at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15. Until that time, vehicles parked on all roadways and in municipal and school parking lots will be towed.
  • The start of Belmont public schools will be delayed by one hour Wednesday
  • Town buildings and offices will be holding regular hours on Wednesday. The Belmont Public Library will open at 9 a.m.
  • Tuesday’s trash and recycling will be picked up on Wednesday and the remainder of the week will be picked up one day later than usual.

If you have any questions please call the snow emergency hotline at 617-993-2698.

Snow Shut Down: Town, School Closed Tuesday; Parking Ban Begins 5PM Tuesday

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Photo: It’ll be snowy in Belmont Tuesday.

Like you didn’t see this coming.

With the season’s biggest Nor’easter on the doorstep, Belmont – along with most of the state – is battening down in preparation for more than a foot and a half of snow on Tuesday, March 14.

  • Belmont’s public schools, town buildings and the Belmont Public Library will be closed as will the Belmont Public Library.
  • The Benton Library will be closed; Pre-School Story Time will not meet. 
  • The storm is expected to be so severe that the Department of Public Works has canceled trash and recycling pick up.
  • The Belmont Police has already issued a snow emergency parking ban beginning at 5 p.m., Tuesday and lasting until further notice. The town will tow vehicles parked on roadways and in municipal and school parking lots after the ban is in effect.
  • In addition to the town closing shop, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker is urging residents to avoid driving Tuesday and take public transportation if possible.
  • The MBTA is expecting to run a regular weekday schedule, but travelers should check with the authority’s severe weather web page throughout the day.

If you have any questions, call the Belmont snow emergency hotline at 617-993-2698. 

Early Warning: Storm Watch Already Issued For Tuesday’s Nor’easter

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Photo: Winter Storm Watch issued for Tuesday’s Nor’easter.

It is more than 24 hours away but the National Weather Service has already issued a Winter Storm Watch for Belmont and the region for a classic Nor’easter that will arrive late Monday night and remain in the area for 24 hours.

Issued at 9:58 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, the NWS statement warns of heavy snow with accumulations of greater than six inches of snow will occur between the night hours of Monday, March 13 and throughout Tuesday, March 14. 

“The heavy snow will make many roads impassable. In addition, strong winds may lead to blowing and drifting snow, reduced visibility, and power outages,” reads the report.  

Winds will come out of the northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 to 50 mph.

A Winter Storm Watch means there is a potential for significant snow, sleet, or ice accumulations that may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest forecasts. Be prepared to modify travel plans should winter weather develop.

Snow Again: Gusty Blizzard on Tap for Sunday Evening/Monday

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Photo: Snow? Again?

The National Weather Service Sunday morning, Feb. 12, has issued the second winter storm warning in three days lasting until 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 13.

The storm will be the second nor’easter since Friday’s whiteout which brought nine inches of snow over eight hours on Thursday, Feb. 9. 

The NWS is predicting snow between 10 to 14 inches over 36 hours beginning at 1 p.m., Sunday. 

The NWS forecast includes:

  • Heavy snow with accumulations of 4 to 12 inches.
  • Steady snow will begin around noon Sunday then heavy in the afternoon into Monday, ending in the late afternoon Monday.
  • Hazardous travel due to snow covered roads and reduced visibilities. Blowing and drifting snow is possible.
  • Winds will be out of the west 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

February Nor’easter Blowing into Belmont Thursday AM, Lasting All Day

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Photo: You know the drill.

A good ol’ Nor’easter will dump between four inches to a foot of snow in Belmont all-day Thursday, Feb. 9.

At 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, Feb. 8, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for eastern Massachusetts including Belmont from 6 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 to midnight, Friday, Feb. 10.

Here are the details from the NSW:

  • Heavy snow with accumulations between 4 to 12 inches.
  • Snow will begin early Thursday morning and last through much of the day before ending Thursday evening. 
  • Snow could fall heavy at times and impact both the morning and evening commutes.
  • Hazardous travel due to snow covered roads and poor visibilities. Blowing and drifting snow is possible.
  • Winds will be out of the North 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.

The NWS provided a pair of maps relating to the amount of snow that we can expect to be shoveling. See below. 

screen-shot-2017-02-08-at-1-26-25-pm screen-shot-2017-02-08-at-1-26-51-pm

Clearing Out: What to Know the Day After the Blizzard in Belmont

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While the snow emergency parking ban will be lifted at noon today, Wednesday, Jan. 28, Belmont Department of Public Works Director Jay Marcotte is asking residents to keep their vehicles off of town streets for a bit longer.

“It would be great if our crews could have clear streets to finish plowing,” Marcotte told the Belmontonian on Monday, Jan. 26, hours before the storm hit.

That is just one request from Marcotte and other town officials who are looking to finish

Today, plow operators will begin “widen out” all streets by pushing the accumulated snow back towards the curb line and clearing the intersections. For that reason, Marcotte would like the widest possible clearance for the plows.

In addition, here are some things to know while clearing out the nearly 20 inches of snow that has settled in Belmont:

  • When clearing driveways, snow should be kept on the owner’s property, the tree lawn or in the gutter. Snow should not be deposited onto the street or sidewalk, or across the street onto a neighbor’s sidewalk. It’s actually the law: Section 60-800A of the Town’s General Bylaw.
  • Here’s a tip: Whenever possible, it is best to pile snow to the right of the driveway (as you face the street) to reduce the potential of having it redeposited at the driveway opening when the plows pass.
  • Prevent street flooding by clearing catch basins near your home to allow rain or melting snow to enter the drainage system.
  • At the urging of Belmont Fire Department, residents should shovel and clear fire hydrants of snow in your neighborhood.

“We do our best to shovel out each and every hydrant in town, but doing so takes several days,” said Belmont Fire Chief David Frizzell.  “If we need to use a hydrant that hasn’t been shoveled out yet, it significantly delays the time it takes for the firefighters to get water on the fire.”

And the clock has started on residents clearing sidewalks adjacent to their property. Belmont’s general bylaws requires paved public sidewalks adjacent to residential property to be cleared and made safe for pedestrians. Residents have until 8 p.m. the day following the end of the storm (Thursday, Jan. 29) to clear the sidewalk of snow, slush and ice. For enforcement information, call the Belmont Office of Community Development at 617-993-2664.