Blizzard leaves 290,000 in Massachusetts without power

BY KATIE CASTELLANI

A combined 290,000 Eversource and National Grid customers in Massachusetts were trying to get by without power Monday afternoon as Gov. Maura Healey urged people to stay off the roads so plow crews could catch up with the snow machine that is the Blizzard of 2026.

Outages are concentrated in coastal communities like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and along parts of the South and North Shore, she said. Snowfall has already exceeded two feet in some areas and is expected to keep accumulating until later in the evening and wind gusts have reached 80 mph on the Outer Cape.

“The bottom line is this nor’easter has been, as expected, a really, really powerful storm,” Healey said during a press conference just after 3 p.m. “We beg and ask everybody to stay off of the roads so that the crews can get out there and do what they need to do.”

The snow began falling Sunday night. It intensified Monday morning and is expected to taper Monday night.

At about 2:45 p.m., Healey issued a travel ban for non-essential vehicles in Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable counties and reduced the speed limit on the Massachusetts Turnpike to 40 mph. Those who violate the travel ban could be fined $500. 

“It’s a serious situation there. We’ve got to be able to get snow cleared as quickly as possible so that we can get power restored as quickly as possible, and that’s why we don’t need people on the road who shouldn’t be on the road,” she said.

As of 1 p.m., Eversource said approximately 231,800 customers were without power. Eversource said it had restored power to more than 107,000 customers, with some of that work completed through remote system operators. The outages were mainly caused by winds and heavy, wet snow causing “tree-related” damage to electrical equipment. At about 3:30 p.m., National Grid reported around 51,000 customers without power.

Healey said Massachusetts has the resources and manpower, but she said the strong winds and snowy roads are limiting crews’ ability to restore power.

“It really is about getting access in,” Healey said. “So that’s why the wind’s got to stop, and the snow’s got to stop, and we got to be able to clear the areas.”

She added: “We could be in for a couple of days. Obviously they’re restoring power as quickly as they can.”

Crews were also brought in from other New England states and Canada to help, she said. 

The MBTA has instituted a reduced winter schedule, similar to its Sunday schedule, for the subway, buses and commuter rail. Ferry services have been cancelled as well as all The RIDE trips after 11:30 a.m Monday. Healey said the reduced services are expected to remain in place Tuesday.

Those who can, are encouraged to work remotely Tuesday and Healey anticipated more school closures. 

State officials are urging anyone who needs to get to a warming shelter to call 2-1-1. 

“If you do need support from a warming center or shelter, call 211, to find the nearest location so that you and your family can stay safe, particularly if you’ve lost electricity and your heating source,” said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley.

State officials said as of 2 p.m. there were more than 350 disabled vehicles across the state, 119 of those were in the Greater Boston area and 111 were on the South Shore.

The State House will be closed Tuesday, Feb. 24, due to the severe winter weather, according to an alert sent out around 4 p.m. on Monday. Legislative sessions scheduled for Tuesday were postponed until Wednesday.