ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Lynn’s fleet of snow plows are ready for the storm.
BY LEAH DEARBORN
If you live on the North Shore, you’ve probably heard the news that snow is coming.
The storm could bring upward of 12 inches of snow to areas throughout the state, said a Wednesday press release from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
“The weather forecast is calling for snow to begin before the morning commute on Thursday, become heavy quickly, and continue throughout the day, decreasing visibility and braking time,” Highway Administrator Thomas J. Tinlin said in the release.
Even as commuters and residents monitor news stations about forecasts, city officials urge them to check local municipal websites, paying particular attention to emergency parking bans and school cancellations.
In Lynn, an emergency parking ban was scheduled to go into effect at midnight Wednesday, the city website said.
Vehicles that park on a public street or sidewalk may face a $155 tow fee and a $35 storage fee in addition to parking tickets. Parking is available at the Ellis Street Municipal Lot (School Street side) and the MBTA garage at Broad and Market streets with a charge of $4 per vehicle, the website said.
Lynn Public Schools are also closed on Thursday. Parking is available but limited at all school lots, and residents are advised by city officials to remove vehicles after the snow ban to avoid ticketing and towing.
“There’s no need for a list; it’s simply all schools,” the mayor’s chief of staff John Krol said about parking in school lots during the storm. “We don’t want any confusion.”
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The Peabody Police Department announced an emergency parking ban to be in effect at 11 p.m. Wednesday, according to an email from the department.
In Lynnfield and Saugus, residents were advised that trash and recycling pickup will be delayed due to the anticipated snowstorm.
Lynnfield trash and recycling scheduled for Thursday of this week will be picked up Friday; trash and recycling normally picked up Friday will be picked up Saturday.
“We’ve got salt, we’ve got plows ready to go,” said Lynnfield DPW Director John Tomasz.
The town of Saugus issued a parking ban, effective at 6 a.m. Thursday through 6 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, the town website said.
Parking is available in the Saugus High School upper lot on Pearce Memorial Drive.
Saugus Youth and Recreation announced on Facebook that all of their events will be canceled Thursday. This includes after-school club, youth wrestling and basketball.
In Swampscott, schools will be closed for the day, according to a message sent out to parents by Superintendent Pamela R.H. Angelakis. DPW Director Gino Cresta said he plans to put an emergency snow ban into effect at 2 a.m. Thursday.
Cresta recommends that residents try to stay off roadways during the storm.
“We’ll be out there as soon as the first snowflake hits,” he said.
Nahant Police Lt. J. Paul Manley said a regular winter parking ban is already in place and all vehicles should be removed from town streets.
The snow parking ban in Revere will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday and apply to specific streets listed on the city website, said DPW foreman Paul Argenzio.
Revere Public Schools are also closed Thursday, according to the city’s official Facebook page.