A snow plow operator works in front of Boston’s Lenox Hotel Wednesday morning. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
BOSTON — A storm that could drop more than a foot of snow in some places is blanketing Massachusetts.
Up to 10 inches of snow is expected in Greater Boston by Wednesday night, with higher snowfall likely in western and northern parts of the state. Cape Cod and the Islands are forecast to see smaller accumulations.
David Epstein’s Wednesday snowfall predictions, as of 6 a.m. (Click to enlarge)
The heaviest snow is expected to taper off after midday, but most of the state remains under a winter storm warning until 6 p.m.
The storm prompted Gov. Deval Patrick to tell all non-essential state employees working in the executive branch to stay home. The state’s trial courts were also closed Wednesday.
Many communities, including Boston, Worcester and Springfield, closed schools.
“Really if you can stay home, do so and stay off the roads,” Patrick urged travelers. “If you have to travel and you have access to public transit, use that.”
Massachusetts State Police reported hundreds of spinouts on roadways.
“We are seeing many, many minor crashes, spinouts and disabled vehicles along the side of the road,” spokesman David Procopio said. “Fortunately we have not seen any serious crashes that have resulted in serious injury yet.”
The speed limit on the entire Massachusetts Turnpike was lowered to 40 mph.
Logan International Airport remains open, but airlines have cancelled dozens of departures.
The state’s utilities say they are preparing for the possibility of more power outages than in earlier storms this winter, because the snow is expected to be the wet and heavy type that weighs down power lines and tree limbs.
But National Grid spokesman Jake Navarro says the utilities are ready.
“This is a storm where we’re not expecting hugely widespread outages,” he said. “Certainly we’re not expecting any customers to be out for something like a 24-hour period or anything like that.”
With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom
– Snowfall totals for the current storm:
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 7]