February may be been relatively mild — with even a couple 50 and 60-degree days — but Mother Nature is reminding us that winter is still in full force by sending a significant snowstorm our way.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has declared a 24-hour winter storm warning starting Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.
Expect heavy snow in Berkshire County with total accumulations of 4 to 9 inches. Snow will be heaviest between 10 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. Snowfall rates of half-inch to 1 inch per hour are expected.
Check iBerkshires on Monday evening and Tuesday morning for school cancelations, as students may get an extra day off after a week of winter break. Our friends at Greylock Snow Day say the weather models are "almost guarantees snow days for the well-rested students of Berkshire County." This may be true particularly in the northern parts of the county.
Snow will continue on Tuesday but will taper off through the day. Temperatures should remain in the mid-30s throughout Monday and Tuesday.
WTEN Channel 10 News in Albany, N.Y., is predicting up to a foot or more in the higher elevations of North Berkshire and Southern Vermont. Even parts of Adams into Cheshire could get 8 inches or more.
Pittsfield south is looking at 4 to 8 inches, though again, higher elevations could see up to a foot.
WBZ out of Boston has lower numbers for Western Mass, predicting 6 to 8 inches overall.
National Grid says it has prepared for this storm by securing more than 450 field-based crews and more than 1,382 total personnel as part of the company's emergency response operations. This includes overhead line, forestry, contractors, underground, damage assessment, wires down, transmission, and substation workers.
"National Grid has been monitoring the forecasts closely for multiple days, and we have secured additional crews and personnel across Massachusetts who are ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible to any impact this storm may bring," said Jeff Faber, director of New England Electric Operations.
With the exception of employees at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, the governor has directed that non-emergency state employees working in Executive Branch agencies should not report to their workplaces on Tuesday. Employees who have the capacity to telework will be expected to do so in accordance with the Telework Policy.
Snow Emergency Declarations
Pittsfield has declared a snow emergency from 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 27 through 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 1.
For the duration of the snow emergency, residents are asked to use off-street parking.
If off-street parking is not available, residents may park on the street observing the following
alternate side parking regulations:
Between 7 a.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday: parking is allowed on the odd side of the street;
Between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday: parking is allowed on the even side of the
street; and
Residents in and around downtown Pittsfield are encouraged to use the McKay Street parking garage which will be open to the public free of charge starting tonight and continuing through the duration of the emergency.
All other existing and signed parking regulations remain active. Non-permitted vehicles are prohibited from parking or standing in any open municipal parking lot between the hours of midnight and 7 a.m.
Vehicles found in violation of the above parking regulations may be towed at the vehicle owner’s
Expense.
City residents are further advised that sidewalks and ramps abutting their property must be cleared of snow within 24-hours of the storm’s end. As a reminder, it is a violation of city ordinance to plow or otherwise dispose of snow from their property onto city streets and sidewalks. Residents are also encouraged to clear snow from around fire hydrants located near their properties.
Adams, Clarksburg and North Adams have also declared snow emergencies overnight, which means no on-street parking. Vehicles in violation may be towed. Don't wait for snow emergencies to move your vehicles off the streets.
A plowable snowfall event is expected overnight thru Tuesday evening.
????? Hazardous travel expected during the Tuesday AM commute – if you must be on the road, take extra caution and make sure your car is stocked with emergency supplies: https://t.co/xgPxkrRUKA#MAsnowpic.twitter.com/StcDrONDgm
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Colegrove Park Recognized as Top 10 School Statewide in Attendance
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
Superintendent Barbara Malkas, left, Colegrove Principal Amy Meehan, Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Dean of Students Jonathan Slocum pose with the Celtics basketball award on Friday.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year.
Tim Connor, assistant director for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's west and central district, arrived with a gold basketball signed by the champion team to reward the students for their achievement.
"An award like this doesn't come easy. It takes a lot of work from all of you, the students, the parents, and especially Ms. Meehan and her wonderful staff, so a big round of applause," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, after leading the assembly in the gym to chants of "Colegrove rocks!" "I am so proud of this school and the community that all of you have built. So everyone should be really excited about today, and this is an excellent way to start your school."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas asked last year's fifth-graders at Colegrove to join her at the front of the gym for a special applause.
"When we track attendance of all the students in the whole district, these students have the highest attendance rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the entire district," Malkas said. "While all Colegrove students have been recognized as attendance all-stars, these students led the way in being attendance all-stars, so let's give them one more round of applause."
Colegrove switched this year to house Grades 3 to 6, so some of the younger students who helped earn the award are now at Brayton Elementary. However, all three elementary schools open last year saw improvement in attendance.
Schools statewide have been working to reduce chronic absenteeism — the percentage of students missing 10 percent of the school year, or 18 days — which peaked during the pandemic.
Last week, the nonprofit held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a 900-square-foot wooden structure with a full foundation and a composting toilet. The excavation process began this week, and completion is expected in 2026.
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The Boston Celtics gave gold to Colegrove Park Elementary School on Friday for scoring in the top 10 schools for attendance statewide. The school saw its chronic absenteeism numbers drop by 11 percent last year. click for more