As the season’s first major snowstorm bore down on the region Sunday evening, area municipalities ordered school closures and parking bans for Monday.
Snow began falling around 3 p.m. in the Valley and accumulated gradually during the evening with sometimes heavy flurries. The National Weather Service forecast snow through Tuesday morning, with 3 to 5 inches accumulating by Monday morning, 1 to 3 more inches during the day, and another 3 to 5 inches possible before the storm ends, with temperatures staying below freezing until then.
State police in Northampton reported multiple vehicles off the road Sunday night, although no accidents were major.
The town has issued a parking ban from Sunday at 11:59 p.m. through Tuesday at 7 a.m. Between these hours, residents may not park in any town streets or lots aside from the lower level of the parking garage, the portion of Pray Street lot, and the northern row of the town’s North Pleasant Street lot. Parking enforcement will begin at 8 a.m. in these lots.
School is canceled on Monday at Amherst-Pelham Regional, Amherst Public and Pelham Elementary schools, and the State of the Town meeting is also canceled.
The town’s Department of Public Works crews began pre-treating streets Sunday afternoon, said DPW Superintendent Guilford Mooring, and are ready for a night of plowing.
“We’re off and running to the races, and will keep going for the rest of the night, probably,” he said.
Mooring encouraged residents to take extra care on the slippery roads and be mindful of snow removal obligations.
“Everyone just needs to slow down, pay attention,” he said, adding that residents should also remember to shovel out fire hydrants in front of their houses and clear storm drains.
Northampton public schools will be closed on Monday, and all classes and events at Smith College have also been canceled.
Officials also issued a parking ban on Sunday and will tow any vehicles left parked on city streets Sunday night, the city announced on its website. The parking ban may last longer than one night. Residents may park in the Armory Street parking lot, but must move their cars between 8 and 10 a.m. and 6 and 8 p.m. for plowing.
All public schools and Town Hall will be closed on Monday, according to announcements by the school and town offices.
The town has also enacted a parking ban, which began on Sunday and will continue Monday at noon. Residents who cannot park in a driveway should park on the even-numbered side of the street on even days and the odd-numbered side on odd days.
Vehicles must be moved to the other side of the street between 8 and 9 a.m., and cannot be parked on Route 116, Main Street, Lamb Street, Bridge Street, Bardwell Street or Lower North Main Street.
Public schools and City Hall are closed on Monday, and a parking ban is in effect from 3 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Tuesday. No parking is permitted on city streets or in municipal parking lots during this time.
Mountain Road was also closed from 6 p.m. Sunday until further notice.
Holyoke public schools and Holyoke Community College are closed on Monday.
Public schools will be closed on Monday, the district announced on its Facebook page. The day will function as a “blizzard bag” day, meaning that students have schoolwork to complete at home in order to avoid adding on days to the end of the year.
The town has also rescheduled its annual Christmas tree lighting to Sunday, Dec. 8.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.