School & Business Closures, Weather Alerts Issued for Western Massachusetts
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Western Massachusetts residents are bracing for a Tuesday of light snow and potential disruptions, with numerous school districts and businesses announcing closures or adjusted schedules. A senior official stated that the region should prepare for slick road conditions and potential travel delays.
Current Closures & Delays
A comprehensive review of reported closures reveals a widespread impact across Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties. Several schools have opted for full closures, while others have announced early dismissals or delayed starts.
Here’s a breakdown of the current situation, as of this report:
Franklin County:
- Franklin County Technical School: Closed Today.
- Gill-Montague Reg School District: Early dismissal.
- Pioneer Valley Reg. School District: Early dismissal.
- Warwick School District: Closing at 12:30PM.
Hampden County:
- Chicopee Public Schools: Early dismissal.
- CT State-Asnuntuck Community College: Closed Today.
- Christ the King Parish-Ludlow: No Bingo.
- Hampden Charter School of Science: Closed Today.
- Holyoke Public Schools: Three hour early release.
- MLK, Jr. Charter School of Excellence: Closed Today.
- May Center School-Chicopee: Closing at 12:00 noon.
- May Center School-West Spfld: Closing at 12:00 noon.
- New Beginnings Transportation: No transportation services; notice issued December 23rd.
- Square One: No transportation services.
- Springfield Prep Charter School: Closed Today.
- Sunshine Village: Closed Today.
- Valley Opp. Council Transportation: No services due to weather.
- Veritas Prep Charter School: Closed Today.
Hampshire County:
- Hulmes Transportation Services: No transportation services.
- New Directions School: Early dismissal at 12:30PM; a holiday show will be rescheduled upon return from break.
- Ware Senior Center: Closing at 1:00PM.
- Wernick Adult Day Health Center: Closed Today.
Businesses:
- Bernardston Council on Aging/Sr. Ctr.: Closing at 12:00 noon.
- Giggle Gardens Learning Center: Closing at 12:30PM.
- Girls Inc. of The Valley: Closing at 1:30PM.
Weather Forecast: Light Snow Expected Throughout Tuesday
The National Weather Service forecasts light snow for the Tuesday morning commute, continuing throughout the day. The “heaviest” snowfall is expected between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and again between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. High temperatures will remain in the mid to upper 30s.
The snow is anticipated to end between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tuesday night. While a minor accumulation is expected in the valley, higher elevations in the hills and Berkshires could see a few inches of snow. Slick roads and sidewalks are likely if not treated.
Travel Advisory
Despite not being a major storm, officials urge residents to exercise caution while traveling. “Give yourself extra time and extra stopping space on the road,” one analyst noted.
Christmas Holiday Outlook
Looking ahead, the weather forecast for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is promising. The region is expected to remain mainly dry, with only a few scattered snow/rain showers possible in the early morning on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day itself is predicted to be dry.
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