Storm Delays: Early Release For Schools Wednesday; Superintendent Interviews Set Back To Thursday, Friday

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Photo: The snow map from the National Weather Service

The late winter storm set to arrive in eastern Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 14 and stay until Wednesday, March 15, has already had an impact on Belmont:

Students coming home after lunch Wednesday

Belmont Public Schools will hold school on Tuesday, but students will be dismissed after lunch at the usual Wednesday earlier release time.

Below the usual Wednesday earlier release schedule:

  • Belmont High School – 1:25 p.m.
  • Chenery Middle School – 1:15 p.m.
  • Elementary Schools – 1:40 p.m.
  • Preschool – 2 p.m. for ½ day pm children, 11:30 a.m. for community peers children, 1 p.m. for Special Education students

Additionally, all after-school and evening activities are canceled. The elementary and middle school after-school programs will contact families regarding changes to the structure of their day.

Superintendent candidate public interviews moved back two days

The inclement weather and possible traveling difficulties, the superintendent finalist district visits have been postponed to Thursday, March 16, and Friday, March 17. 

The Belmont School Committee is erring to allow maximum community participation at the public forums and interviews rather than risking inclement weather preventing anyone from attending. 

The new schedule is:

Thursday, March 16

3:30-4:30 p.m.: SC Interview with Dr. Jill Geiser
4:45-5:45 p.m.: SC Interview with Dr. Carlee Simon
6 – 6:30 p.m.: Public Forum with Dr. Jill Geiser
6:40 – 7:10 p.m.: Public Forum with Dr. Carlee Simon

Friday, March 17

4 p.m. – 5 p.m.: SC Interview with Dr. Kimo Carter
6 p.m. – 6:30 P.M.: p.m.:Public Forum with Dr. Kimo Carter

There It Blows: Gale Forced Winds/Snow This Week Could Cause Outages

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Photo: Wind and snow over the next three days

Gale forced winds up to 70 mph will storm through eastern Massachusetts and Belmont from Monday, March 13 to Wednesday, March 15 with the potential of down electrical wires causing outages during the week.

In a press release issued at 3:35 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, the National Weather Service said a Winter Storm Watch will be in effect from Monday evening through Wednesday morning.

The storm will start as rain, changing to snow Tuesday morning, accumulating into Tuesday night. The late day Tuesday commute will likely be impacted with snow covered roads and low visibility,” said the NWS.

“Travel could be difficult. Heavy wet snow combined with gusty winds could bring down tree branches and result in power outages,” said the report.

If the lights go out, call Belmont Light‘s outage number: 617-993-2800

Or text an outage to 617-993-6006 with all the necessary information: Name, address, outage information. When reporting an outage Belmont Light encourage customers to send photos of any damages, infrastructure issues, and general community engagement. But do it safely.

Belmont Light also has an outage map online where customers and residents stay informed on the extent of the outage.

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.

Grrrrr! Burrrrr! More Snow, Coldest Temperatures This Weekend

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Not only can Belmont residents expect the fourth winter storm in the past month to arrive this weekend, the snow misery will be matched up with bone-chilling cold.

The National Weather Service at 4:30 a.m. issued a Winter Storm Watch that will go into effect at 3 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, and remains through 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb 15.

The snow will begin Saturday afternoon with between 2 to 4 inches before briefly ending around 10 p.m. The main storm, with gusty winds and possible blizzard-like conditions, will begin after midnight, Sunday, and lasting until the late afternoon. By the end of the tempest, anywhere between 6 to 18 inches of snow is expected to fall.

The snow will be accompanied by frigid temperatures with highs on Sunday and Monday, President’s Day, Feb. 16, barely breaking into the teens with nighttime lows well below zero.

Belmont Can Expect More than a Foot of Snow Monday

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Here we go, once again.

The  National Weather Service is issuing its third Winter Storm Warning in the past two weeks forecasting 12 to 18 inches of snow falling on Belmont through late Monday night, Feb. 8. And Belmont will be on the edge of an area running from Boston to Bedford where 18 to 24 inches of snow could be dumped.

This new snow storm will add to the 52 inches of snow Belmont has received this winter.

The warning will go in effect at 10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 7,  and last until 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

A few light snow showers and flurries expected through early Saturday with steady snow developing early Sunday morning and continues at varying intensity through Sunday afternoon. The heaviest snow is expected to fall for 24 hours from Sunday night into Monday night.

The snow will bring hazardous driving conditions due to the storm’s long duration.

Later this week, a frigid weather system will blow into the area, sending high temperatures into the single digits.

 

Not Again: Belmont Under Third Winter Storm Warning in 10 Days

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In the English children’s song, “I’ll Tell Me Ma,” the lyrics declare “Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high/Snow come shovelin’ from the sky.”

And for the third time in 10 days, Belmont will witness another blast of shove-able snow as the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the area, beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, until 1 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3.

The warning, issued at 1 p.m. today, Sunday, Feb. 1, is calling for between 8 inches to a foot of heavy snow falling in Belmont and points north of the Mass Pike. Accompanying the snow will be moderate winds of between 5 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.

The possible foot of snow comes just days after the town and region dug itself out of more than 20 inches of snow that fell during a blizzard that occurred this past Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Snow will fall heavy at times Monday morning, Feb. 2, at 1 to 2 inches per hour, impacting the morning rush hour making for hazardous travel on snow covered roads.

Snowy Saturday: Winter Storm Watch Issued for Belmont

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Snow in January? Don’t panic!

The National Weather Service in Taunton has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Belmont and most of the western suburbs of Boston, for most of Saturday as heavy snow is expected to fall on the region.

As of 4 a.m., the NWS is predicting between 4 to 8 inches of snow with a trace of ice starting in the wee hours of Saturday, Jan. 24. The precipitation may change to rain mid-day before changing back to snow for the evening.

Belmont is likely to be on the lower end of the snow fall projections as Boston and Somerville are expecting only 3 to 5 inches due to warmer costal weather.

Because the snow will be wet, large branches and wires could be brought down.

And don’t fly your private plane as visibility will be a quarter mile or less at times.