Mass. Hit With Another Winter Storm

January 21, 2011

Commuters driving eastbound on Storrow Drive at the junction of Soldiers Field Road experienced bumper-to-bumper traffic early Friday morning. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Weather weary residents on Friday experienced another messy commute as the latest storm — the fourth in the past month to strike Greater Boston — quickly pushed through the region.

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The snow tapered off around noon. Boston officials declared a 4 p.m. conclusion to the snow emergency parking ban.

"The afternoon commute, no weather woes whatsoever," said WCVB-TV meteorologist David Brown. "The snow is done — (there's a) gradual drying trend and cold — but what has fallen is all we're going to see."

Widespread totals of 4 to 6 inches were reported, and 8 inches in some of Boston's western suburbs and central Massachusetts towns.

The fast-moving storm struck the region early Friday. Light snow fell at a rapid pace right during the Boston area's commute.

Marshal Hooks, regional director of Metro Traffic, said plows had trouble keeping up with the snow.

“The snow is falling at a rate that even after a plow goes over a roadway, the road gets pretty bad again pretty quickly," he said.

There were dozens of minor accidents reported Friday morning, but state police say there weren't any serious injuries.

A bucket loader moves snow off the town square in Norwell on Friday. (AP)

To respond to conditions, Highway Administrator Luisa Paiewonsky lowered the speed limit on all state roads to 40 miles per hour. That limit was lifted before noon.

"Traveling at anything approaching normal highway speeds in conditions like this results in crashes and spin-outs, and that makes it more difficult for everybody," she said.

Gov. Deval Patrick asked non-emergency state employees to delay coming into work until 11 a.m.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced a snow emergency and parking ban for the city, effective Thursday night. Boston, Cambridge, Brookline and Newton schools were among hundreds that were closed Friday.

Hundreds of flights in and out of Boston Logan International Airport were canceled, and delays were reported on MBTA buses and on the commuter rail.

The National Weather Service said temperatures should drop immediately following the snow.

This program aired on January 21, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.