PEABODY STORM CENTER: Storm Turns Into a Dusting

Wednesday Updates:

5 a.m.: If you're wondering where all the snow is, it appears that this is it. The storm was worse along the South Shore and Cape Cod, as predicted, but turned out to be a relative dusting for the North Shore. The last reported snowfall measurement in Peabody was only about 2 inches. The temperature, however, is expected to remain chilly today at a high of 15 degrees. With the wind chill, it will feel like -12 degrees.
   
Tuesday Updates:

8 p.m.: The mayor's office says that due to the storm, City Hall won't open Wednesday until 10 a.m.

6:30 p.m.: School has been called off in Peabody for Wednesday.

6 p.m.: Still no official word yet on whether school in Peabody will be called off Wednesday. In the meantime, students have taken to Twitter, wondering what the verdict will be. Over in Salem, the call was made around 6 p.m. to close schools on Wednesday while Beverly made the decision before 4 p.m.

4:45 p.m.: Snow has started to fall around the city.

4 p.m.: Gov. Deval Patrick sent state workers home early at 3 p.m. and urged private employers to do the same before the worst of the impending storm arrived.

3:25 p.m.: The latest forecast from the National Weather Service says the North Shore and Peabody area may only see 6-10 inches of snow in the storm. Conditions are expected to deteriorate through Tuesday evening and travel may become difficult at times due to snow-covered roads and poor visibility. Commuters south of Boston should face the brunt of the storm, but still "plan on extra travel time for the evening commute," says the weather service. "Try to have all travel completed early this evening if possible."

2:14 p.m.: The sixth grade concert scheduled Tuesday evening at Higgins Middle School has been postponed until Monday, Jan. 27, according to an update via the school's Twitter account.

12:30 p.m.: The city declared an emergency parking ban in effect as of 12:30 p.m. That means no parking is allowed on city streets until further notice. The worst of the storm is expected to arrive, starting during the evening commute.

10:30 a.m.: The Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce says that due to the timing of this storm into Wednesday morning, the State of the City Breakfast has been postponed until next week. The event will be held Jan. 29 at the Holiday Inn. Doors open at 7 a.m. for registration, coffee and networking, followed by breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Mayor Ted Bettencourt is the guest speaker.

10:30 a.m.: Tuesday's Learn to Skate class at 4:15 p.m. at the McVann-O'Keefe Skating Rink has been canceled, according to this notice from the rink.

Original story: Who's ready for another big storm? The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 1 p.m. Tuesday through 1 p.m. Wednesday.

• National Weather Service: 8-12 inches
• Channel 7, WHDH: 5-8 inches

Peabody Emergency Contacts

• In case of an emergency, dial 911
  
• Peabody Police Department - 978-531-1212
• Peabody Fire Department - 978-531-3444
• Peabody Municipal Light Plant power outages: 978-531-5975
• National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966) 

Be sure to follow Peabody Patch on Twitter and Facebook throughout the storm as we'll have ongoing updates there as well.

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