The governor of Massachusetts has criticized the Boston public transit system as “unacceptable” for its performance on Monday as the region was pummeled by its third major winter storm in less than a month.
Governor Charlie Baker said he plans to have a “long conversation” with management of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority after the weather subsides, the Associated Press reported. Nearly 50 commuters were trapped for two hours on a Red Line train just outside Boston, and some lines were entirely shut down.
The national weather service issued storm warnings for much of New England through Tuesday, the third major winter storm in two weeks to bring more than a foot of snow and prompt travel delays and school closures.
Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston, is expecting between 12 and 16in of snow, falling primarily during the morning. Flakes were expected to fall at a rate of up to 1-2in per hour.
“This storm marks our third major snow storm we have experienced in nearly two weeks,” Baker said earlier in the day. “The cumulative effects of the total snowfall is forecasted to cause many challenges for the Commonwealth.”
“Please stay informed, respect parking bans, help your neighbors shovel sidewalks, driveways, nearby fire hydrants, and be safe as road crews work on snow cleanup.”
The city has already broken its record for the snowiest week, according to the National Weather Service. The city recorded 34.2in of snowfall, breaking a nearly decade-old record by 3in. On Monday, the city also broke its 30-day snowfall record when 61.6in had fallen in just 16 days. The previous record of 58.8in had held since 1978.
The city has received so much snow that the mayor’s office warned residents to have their roofs checked by a contractor to determine if snow needed to be removed to prevent collapse.
“Travel will be slow at best on well-treated surfaces … and quite difficult on any unplowed or untreated surfaces,” the National Weather Service warned.
More than 500 flights in and out of Boston airport are canceled on Monday. Around the country, 1,500 flights have been canceled. Much of Boston’s public transportation, including trains, are operating with delays. Boston’s public schools are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Surrounding New England cities are unlikely to escape the weather. Northern Connecticut, most of Rhode Island, and south-east Massachusetts are predicted to receive between 10 and 14in of snow on Monday. A winter weather watch does not end until 1am Tuesday, and 4am in some parts of New England.
Much of north-west Connecticut is also expecting heavy snow. Between eight and 14in is expected in the suburban region west of the capital city of Hartford, where the winter weather advisory remains in effect until 6am on Tuesday. Winds of up to 25mph are expected in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, just north of Connecticut.
East central New York is also expecting snow between 8 and 14in. Southern New England is expecting up to 6in, around New Haven and Fairfield, Connecticut. New York City is expecting around an inch of snow, with sleet and freezing rain accumulations of about one-tenth of an inch. There is a 60% chance that Boston could see more snow on Thursday morning.
