Gov. Healey bans non-essential travel in southeastern Mass. as blizzard dumps snow and knocks out power

Last updated Feb. 23, at 3:50 p.m.

Hundreds of thousands of people across Massachusetts remain without power as a storm rivaling the Blizzard of '78 blasts the region, grinding the state to a halt.

Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday afternoon that the state has instituted a travel ban across the southeastern part of the state, including Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties.

"We really need to make sure that area is clear for cleanup and the power restoration that will come once snowfall subsides hopefully this evening," she told WBUR.

Those exempt from the travel ban include public safety, health care personnel and workers serving critical businesses, like gas stations and pharmacies. The ban will remain in place until the state highway administrator determines conditions are safe. Violators can receive a $500 fine.

Healey added that she expected state workers to stay home again Tuesday and that most municipalities would follow. Several districts, including Boston Public Schools, have already canceled classes Tuesday.

"Bottom line, stay off the roads," she said during a press conference Monday afternoon. "We’re going to have to be patient this is going to continue it looks like for a little while longer."

More than 280,000 customers were without power across the eastern part of the state as of 3:30 p.m., as damaging winds battered power lines. Cape Cod is the hardest hit area. The Mass. Emergency Management Agency reports that nearly all customers on the outer Cape were without power.

Doug Foley, president of Massachusetts electric operations at Eversource, said with the storm expected to ease up into Monday evening, the utility didn't expect many more people to lose power. Around 4 p.m., crews from New Hampshire and Western Mass. will head to the South Shore and Cape Cod to work on restoration.

It could take three to five days for everyone to get their power back, he said. Anyone needing a place to stay warm can call 211 to find a warming center.

Boston hit blizzard criteria around 9:20 a.m, according to the National Weather Service. That's defined as visibility of a quarter mile or less and wind speeds (sustained or frequent gusts) of 35 mph or higher, over at least a period of three hours.

Snow piled up across the state, with 31 inches in Somerset, 24.5 in Foxboro and 14.4 at Logan Airport. Providence, with 33.5 inches so far, broke the previous record set during the Blizzard of '78.

State Highway Administrator Johnathan Gulliver said he expects interstates to be mostly cleared by the morning commute Tuesday, but warned that local roadways may take longer to clean up. He said 3,000 pieces of snow removal equipment are out on highways across the state Monday. The speed limit on the Mass. Pike was lowered to 40 mph during the storm.

Wind gusts of 59 mph were reported at Logan Airport just before 7 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. The agency predicted the highest wind gusts will blow between 4 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday.

The storm is creating dangerous conditions from parts of Maryland up through Maine. Some parts of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey had recorded over a foot of snow by 7:30 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.

One bright spot: coastal flooding in Massachusetts was less dire than anticipated.

The MBTA has sharply reduced service amid the storm.

"People who can work from home are strongly encouraged to do so, but for those who must use transit, the MBTA urges riders to be safe, plan ahead, and allow for extra time," the transit authority said in a statement Sunday.

The commuter rail, bus and subway are running on a reduced storm schedule. The T suspended service on Mattapan Line, with shuttle buses to replace the trolley. All ferry service is canceled. Buses are operating on modified snow routes.

The MBTA warned that services will likely be impacted on Tuesday — and perhaps longer — as crews work to clean up after the storm.

"This storm is of a magnitude where cleanup is going to be today, tomorrow, into Wednesday, and possibly even more, just given the amount of snow on top of the existing base of snow," MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Colohan told WBUR. "You couple that with the wind, this really is the perfect storm."

No flights are expected at Logan Airport today, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority, which operates the airport. The agency said it aims to keep one runway open for emergencies, but noted “with white out conditions that may not be possible.”

Amtrak canceled all trains between New York and Boston through Monday.

With reporting from WBUR's Miriam Wasser, Andrea Perdomo-Hernandez, Katie Cole and Steve Brown.