Boston to Dig Out from Historic Blizzard as Crews Brace for Days of Cleanup

As dawn broke over Massachusetts Monday, Boston was buried under a thick white blanket that locals hadn’t seen in years. Plows crawled down once-busy streets, snowbanks rose taller than parked cars, and city crews warned the cleanup might stretch well into the week.

Meteorologists from WBZ-TV said parts of southeastern Massachusetts could see more than two feet of snow before the historic storm winds down — a “bomb cyclone” that rapidly intensified overnight. The powerful system brought near-zero visibility, howling 60 mph gusts, and whiteout conditions stretching from New Jersey to Maine, according to Fox Weather.

“This is a full-on blizzard,” WCVB meteorologist Mike Wankum said in a Sunday night broadcast. “We’re looking at foot-and-a-half totals in many spots, maybe two feet in places. Winds are sustained at 35 miles an hour or higher, and that’s what pushes us into blizzard conditions.” He explained that visibility can remain near zero even after snowfall tapers, as gusts whip powder into the air.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu urged residents to stay off roads and allow plows to work. “Our crews are out in force, but this one’s going to take some time,” Wu told Boston 25 News. City officials said snow removal could take “possibly all week” given the sheer volume and drifting in narrow neighborhoods.

Widespread power outages were reported across the region, with Fox Weather noting more than 250,000 customers in the Northeast without electricity early Monday. Utility companies urged patience as crews faced treacherous conditions reaching downed lines.

In southern New Hampshire, snow totals mirrored the Bay State’s hardest-hit areas. Nashua and Salem each picked up more than a foot by daybreak, and forecasters said snow could linger into the afternoon. Residents there reported waist-high drifts and unplowed side roads as cleanup logistics mirrored the situation in nearby Massachusetts towns like Lawrence and Lowell.

For many, the storm carried a mix of exasperation and awe. After three relatively mild winters, meteorologists said Boston’s seasonal total of more than 40 inches — and climbing — already marks the snowiest in years.

Travelers, however, weren’t celebrating. Logan Airport canceled hundreds of flights, commuter rail lines reduced service, and a travel ban remained in effect overnight for parts of the South Shore and Cape Ann.

While the storm has already entered the record books, it’s the post-storm grind that will define the week ahead. “We’re asking everyone to be patient,” Wu said. “The snow isn’t done, and neither is the cleanup.”