EASTHAMPTON — Mark Conz wasn’t fazed Wednesday about the dense, wet mix forecasters predict will pummel the region Thursday.
“It’s New England,” the 63-year-old Florence man said. “Come on.”
Conz had just purchased a new shear pin for his snowblower at the Aubuchon Hardware store in Easthampton. As the clock ticked Wednesday, hardware store employees, their customers and snow plowing companies were busy preparing.
On Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning that was to last from 9 a.m. Thursday to 10 a.m. Friday for Hampshire, Franklin and western Hampden counties.
As much as 10 inches of snow was possible in Northampton by Friday morning, said William Babcock, a weather service meteorologist. At 10 p.m. Wednesday, weather service meteorologist Hayden Frank said lower elevations could see between 2 to 6 inches of snow, while higher elevations could see more.
“It’s going to be elevation-dependent,” he said of the coming storm.
Precipitation was expected to start between 8 and 10 a.m. Thursday, becoming heavier into the afternoon, weather service meteorologist Matthew Belk said Wednesday evening.
Snow should taper off Thursday night with a few lingering flurries first thing Friday morning, according to Babcock.
“Friday should be drying and partly sunny,” he said.
“If anyone is planning on traveling any place tomorrow, (I) suggest they think twice,” Babcock said. “If they still need to go, allow plenty of extra time and don’t drive like it’s July, because it most certainly will not be.”
Municipalities announced steps to minimize any possible problems. In Easthampton, a parking ban for all city streets was issued for 9 a.m. Thursday until further notice. Mountain Road (Route 141) will also be closed at noon, according to a news release.
In Granby, an on-street parking ban will be in effect from 8 a.m. Thursday until 4 p.m. Friday, according to a release. In Northampton, an on-street parking ban will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Friday.
A boys basketball game scheduled Thursday between Smith Academy and Pioneer Regional has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. Friday at Pioneer Regional.
Belk said with temperatures fluttering around freezing, precipitation could transition into a rain/snow mix Thursday afternoon in some parts of the Pioneer Valley.
Babcock said the result should be a heavy, wet snow.
“This is the type of snow that they advise anyone who has the slightest chance of heart problems not to shovel,” he said.
At the True Value Foster Farrar Co. hardware store on King Street in Northampton, owner Paul Czapienski said business this year on snow-related equipment has increased compared to last year’s relatively dry winter.
He said with the heavy snow and temperatures expected to flutter around freezing Thursday, customers will likely come in looking to replace shovels and parts on their snowblowers.
“Storms like this we see people with shovels breaking,” Czapienski said. He added: “Snow throwers really don’t like slush much.”
Rich Jaescke, owner of RCW Landscape and Contruction, said his crews were on notice and monitoring weather in preparation for a day of snow removal Thursday.
“Without snow removal, their business comes to a halt,” he said of his customers. “It’s really something that has to be done.”
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.