South Shore, Most Of U.S. Covered In Snow

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—More than 9,000 National Grid customers in Brockton and more than 67,500 in the region are without electricity after a January blizzard that shutdown the Southern U.S. and now days later has stomped the South Shore area with anywhere from 7 to 18 inches of snow.
More than 42,000 of National Grid's outages are in Plymouth County, including more than 9,000 in Bridgewater and 5,200 in Pembroke.
At about 9 a.m. just over 3,000 Brockton National Grid customers were without power.
By 12:30 p.m. that number has shot to more than 9,500, according to National Grid's website.
Brockton officials have opened a warming shelter at the Main Branch of the Brockton Public Library which will remain open until later this afternoon when a shelter will be set up at West Middle School.
Snow began about midnight Wednesday, Jan. 12 and according to the National Weather Service is expected to continue into the afternoon with increased accumulations of 1 to 3 inches. Winds are expected to blow at about 15 mph.
According to the National Weather service every state, with the exception of Florida, currently has snow on the ground.
This includes Hawaii where about seven inches of snow is atop Mauna Kea volcano.
As of Jan. 11, 69.4 percent of the contiguous United States is covered by snow - this is more than double the snow cover from last month.
State and local officials have advised people to stay home unless they are essential workers such as public safety, medical personnel and of course snow plow drivers.
Driving is slow and slippery and in some cases motorists have had to pull over to scrape wet, heavy snow that has accumulated on windshields.
Officials are urging people to stay off the roads so plows can clear roadways.
Brockton schools, and all others on the South Shore have canceled classes, and city and town halls and libraries are closed.
Many businesses have also closed.
Brockton residents who may need assistance during the storm can contact Brockton Emergency Management Agency at 508-580-7871.
The city declared a snow emergency beginning at 6 p.m. Tueday night and until further notice that prohibits parking on all city streets.
Residents are urged to move their cars and trucks from city streets if they have not done so. Police are locating trouble spots and will tow vehicles that impede plows and safety vehicles.