FRAMINGHAM—Gov. Charlie Baker repeatedly urged motorists to stay off the roads during a noon press conference as Thursday’s winter storm continued to roar across the state.
The winter weather is now expected to dump between 10 and 15 inches of snow—and as much as 20 inches in some locations—statewide before it wraps up this evening, Baker said. Even after the snowfall ends, temperatures will drop below freezing and sustained winds of between 25 and 30 mph may create snow drifts, he said.
“We’re asking folks if they can stay off the roads and not travel unless it’s absolutely necessary to do so,” Baker told reporters inside the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency headquarters facility.
More than 3,300 snow-clearing crews are operating across the state, according to a Tweet issued by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Baker urged motorists attempting to brave the conditions to stay out of the way of state crews.
“If you must travel, please allow the snow removal teams to do their jobs,” he said.
The winter weather has caused a bevy of traffic incidents locally, including sending a University of Massachusetts Transit bus sliding across North Pleasant Street in Amherst. While both the UMass Transit and Pioneer Valley Transit Authority have suspended operations, the MBTA’s subway and commuter lines continue to operate on a regular schedule, Baker said.
As of 11:30 a.m., officials were working to restore power to between 3,000 to 4,000 residents, he said.
Baker also urged residents to check in on family and neighbors, clear sidewalks and the areas around fire hydrants, and follow any directions issued by local municipal authorities.
Still, the governor described the storm as not out of the ordinary for New England in the winter. The plan is to have “all systems go” by Friday morning, Baker said.
“From my point of view, this is a large, but fairly typical annual event here in Massachusetts,” he said.
Derrick Perkins can be reached at dperkins@gazettenet.com