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Winter Storm Neptune: Northeast, New England Prepare For Another Blizzard; Travel Woes Loom in Face of Storm
Winter Storm Neptune: Northeast, New England Prepare For Another Blizzard; Travel Woes Loom in Face of Storm
Nov 8, 2024 8:55 AM

Winter Storm Neptune, a demented curtain call following weeks of relentless winter weather, has the potential to be New England's most unforgiving snowstorm of 2015.

Not only will some of the snow fall in areas that have nowhere to put it, but the will of an exhausted city will be tested. Boston is coming off two major winter storms in a little over 2 weeks, and its residents are being asked to prepare for the possibility of another major snow event.

Bay Staters , and one Watertown, Massachusetts, resident reflected the thoughts of so many others. ArmandoPinherotold the Associated Press, "I can't take it anymore,I'm beat, I'm tired, I'm ready to go back to Brazil."

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"When you put this snow down on top of the snow that's already fallen, all of that snow blowing around is going to cause ground blizzard conditions, even without snow falling," said, winter weather expert at The Weather Channel.

According to the National Climatic Data Center, Boston has not recorded two blizzards in one season since records began in 1950. Neptune has the potential to be the year's second blizzard for Beantown after blizzard conditions verified during Winter Storm Juno last month.

Even if there aren't blizzard conditions, another foot of snow won't be welcomed by a city that has already seen nearly 80 inches this season. According to a Boston Globe report, tired snow plow drivers for more snow along the side of streets. In nearby Rockland, the National Guard was clearing 8-foot snow drifts in preparation for Neptune, the report added.

"You just can’t push it to the side anymore," said Dan Rivera, Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in the Boston Globe report.

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Many communities– Boston included– are to get them through the rest of winter, as many snow-removal budgets have been completely spent, according to The AP.

Boston Gov. Charlie Baker shared the city would be receiving support and assistance from crews across eight states in New England and the Northeast during a Friday afternoon press conference. Crews will work shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week to plow, remove and dispose of snow. There are currently 100 missions to remove snow across the commonwealth, and 300 pieces of heavy equipment have been added to the existing fleet.

Hundreds of National Guard troops moved into place to assist with snow removal upon Baker's call, and heavy equipment donated by other states was staged at Hanscom Air Force Base outside of Boston, the AP reported. Boston has received backhoes, dump trucks, front-end loaders and two snow-melting machines from neighboring states.

During a press conferenceFriday afternoon, Baker forewarned travelers to expect limited activity and flights out of Boston on Sunday. While he did not issue a travel ban for the state, he did urge motorists to avoid roadways during the storm.

All MBTA service for Sunday has been suspended, per NBC Boston's Twitter:

Schools are also on alert for possible closures at the beginning of next week, but the city has already canceled a record 8 days of classes this year. Boston has already extended the school year to June 30, and kids will be expected to attend classes on two Suffolk County holidays, The AP added.

Baker noted the city is in touch with utilities on a regular basis to ensure everything is in check.

The coastal community of Scituate will implement a state of emergency at midnight Saturday, said town administrator Patricia Vinchesi. Portions of the town's seawall were compromised during a storm in January, the AP reported. National Guard troops and the New York DOT have been assisting the community with snow removal.

After weeks of battering winter storms, Massachusetts small businesses have taken a hard hit. To help business owners get back on their feet, Baker declared next week as 'Valentines Week.' Valentines Day normally generates about half a billion dollars in sales for the state.He encouraged consumers to get out and visit Main Street businesses, restaurants and small businesses to revitalize the spirits of dampened communities. Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Jay Ash noted weather-related woes have cut into businesses' sales up to 80 percent.

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To the south, where this season's snow totals have been smaller, New York City's snow-moving capabilities will once again be put to the test, and , according to Gothamist. The machines melt the snow and filter debris out of the water before being fed into a sewer that will carry it to a treatment plant, the report added.

In western New York, temperatures dipped well below zero Friday morning, leading to school closures and delays in several school districts, The AP also reported.

Coastal communities in New Hampshire prepared for Neptune by clearing snow and making room for more on narrow town streets. Foreman Paul Paradis of the Rye Department of Public Works says for the long road ahead. "It's just been hectic," Paradis told WMUR-TV, "I'm trying to give the guys rest when I can. It's just been real hectic."

A crew from Accurate Tree Service Londonberry, New Hampshire, of Londonberry South Elementary School, WMUR reported. Crews wanted to ensure the students would be safe ahead of Neptune's arrival.

Dangerous wind chill temperatures prompted the in Michigan, MLive.com reported.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Marcus

Commuters exit shuttle buses at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) JFK/UMass stop on Monday, Feb. 9, 2015, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Red Line experienced substantial delays due to snow accumulation and two disabled trains Monday morning. (Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)

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