As it happened: First of several snowstorms blasts Boston

In the Merrimack Valley, snow cleaning started early Wednesday afternoon in Haverhill, hours before the flakes started falling.

Some, like Michelle Watson, took advantage of the free sand the Department of Public Works offers.

“Everywhere is out so Haverhill DPW is really stepping up and letting everyone come and fill up a couple buckets,” Watson said.

The Department of Public Works had “about 120 private snowplows and about 15 pieces of city-owned equipment out there,” said Robert Ward, the department's director. He also said they had less salt than they would like but will be getting around 2,000 tons in the next few days.

Snow turned to drizzle around lunch time in Worcester.

“I woke up this morning and there was nothing on the street and it was like, alright, they are predicting the storm we're not going to get — by the time I got dressed I looked and thought, not going out! The storm had started,” said Patti Britt as she shoveled the driveway of her home. “I got grandchildren, I'm glad they’re not at school. I’m glad the buses, the kids are safe. That’s the most important thing.”

Worcester Public Schools cancelled classes on Thursday due to the forecast of snow and ice.

The Worcester Public Library also closed several branches. The Worcester Senior Center at Providence Street was closed as well, but the YMCA kept its doors open as a winter warming center.

There were 244 crashes that Massachusetts State Police had to deal with during today's storm, 11 of which caused injuries, the agency said in an update.

Here's the full dataset they shared, comparing today's crashes with the previous two Thursdays.

"As you can see in the data, although the number of crashes is more than double a typical day this time of year, the number of crashes with injury appears to be on par with a typical day," a police spokesman said in a statement. "We appreciate the care with which people have driven to minimize injuries and avoid fatal outcomes. Thank you."

A pair of car wrecks briefly shut the Maine Turnpike during the snowstorm, state police said.

Two people were hospitalized with minor injuries and four of the vehicles had to be towed from the accidents in Gray, according to police. They shared images of several damaged vehicles.

The first pileup took place about 12:39 p.m., with three vehicles crashing at mile marker 59. Then, police said, with traffic slowing, five passenger vehicles and two trucks crashed.

It took an hour to clear the road, and police urged drivers to keep being cautious, or, better yet, avoid driving, amid slick conditions.

Roads have been treacherous across New England during today's storm — and an escaped pig added to the difficulty in South Hampton, New Hampshire.

Local police shared images of a big pig that got out on Route 107A. Luckily, she was returned home safely and without incident.

"Glad she got to stretch her legs," police said on Facebook, along with a photo showing the portly porker in the middle of the road.

Massachusetts State Police say they've responded to 210 car crashes on highways and other state roads amid Thursday's snow storm.

And that's as of 3:05 p.m., with icy conditions possible on roads into the evening.

The 210 crashes is more than double the number state police responded to on the last two Thursdays, though the number of crashes involving injuries is actually down — just seven were reported this Thursday, compared to 13 on Jan. 30 and 21 on Jan. 23.

To help keep drivers safe amid the dangerous conditions, the speed limit on the Massachusetts Turnpike has been reduced to 40 mph between Framingham and the border with New York state.

The snow is causing headaches at Logan airport, with the average departing fight delayed 98 minutes, according to the FAA.

"Aircraft departing from General Edward Lawrence Logan International are being sprayed with deicing fluid to remove snow and ice," reads the most recent status update from the FAA's system status page.

The Norwell Fire Department warned that while there isn't much snow on the ground, road conditions are slippery. They were called in for help when a car went off the road on Route 3 South Thursday.

Drivers are advised to take it slow and give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination.

Snow is already falling in Boston. Here are a few images from the Seaport District on Thursday morning.

Two tractor-trailer crashes were reported on the Massachusetts Turnpike on Thursday as snow continued to fall across the state.

The first crash was reported just before 10:30 a.m. on Interstate 90 west in Stockbridge in the area of mile market 7. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the right lane was closed.

Tractor trailer crash in #Stockbridge on I-90-WB Exit/MM-7. Right lane closed.

— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) February 6, 2025

A second crash was reported around noon. NBC10 Boston's Weather Warrior was on scene of a tractor-trailer unit off the highway on I-90 in Framingham. An email to state police seeking additional details was not immediately returned.

A plow driver took out the front porch of a home in Lynn, Massachusetts, during Thursday morning's snowstorm.

Lynn police said the crash occurred shortly after 10 a.m. on Nichols Avenue, taking out the front porch of a home. The plow driver was being evaluated by medical personnel at the scene.

Police said they believe the weather conditions contributed to the crash.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has put a 40 mph speed restriction in place on Interstate 90 from the New York border to mile marker 59.2 in Palmer as weather conditions worsen.

From @MassDOT: I-90 40mph speed restriction now NY border-mile marker 59.2 Palmer. Also no special permit/tandem. @WWLP22News @masslivenews

— Jacquelyn Goddard (@JacqueGoddard) February 6, 2025

Shortly after noon, MassDOT said the 40 mph speed limit restriction was extended east to Framingham.

MassDOT also issued a winter weather advisory on Thursday morning, advising travelers that snowfall and severe cold are expected to impact travel in many parts of the state through the early part of the evening.

"Travelers should allow for extra travel time and check forecasts for their routes and destinations and, if possible, consider using public transportation in place of a personal vehicle. For Western and Central Massachusetts and the North and South shores, widespread snowfall amounts of 2-4” are forecast. For Cape Cod and the Islands, the snowfall amounts forecast are lower. MassDOT crews have been pretreating roadways in advance of the storm and will be deploying snow removal staff and equipment as necessary across the Commonwealth."