The blizzard that dumped what was approaching two feet of snow on Boston went along about as “smoothly” as such a gigantic winter Nor’easter could, officials said as snowfall began to peter out and what’s expected to be a multi-day cleanup began.
“It pretty much behaved the way everyone thought it would, and that’s made a big difference,” Baker told reporters Saturday evening, after the true fury of Winter Storm Kenan began to wind down.
The storm — which at least some of the TV meteorologists officially deemed a blizzard, a designation technically based on wind speed and visibility marks over several hours — pounded its way through Eastern Massachusetts all day Saturday, with snowfall starting late Friday night but the teeth of the storm hitting late Saturday morning into the afternoon. Frigid winds howled as the tempest knocked out power for thousands, caused coastal flooding and required weary plow drivers working around the clock to even attempt to get close to dealing with the at-times three to four inches an hour of snow that swirled around the area.
Winthrop MA. - January 29: People walk through heavy snow on Crest Ave in Winthrop during a Nor'easter that blasted the region. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .The dig out continues as a Nor'easter blast the region. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .A Winthrop police cruiser drives anlong Revere Street as the blowing snow hampers visability. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .A German shepherd dog enjoys the snow after a quick run around her yard. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: A man walks his dogs in near white out conditions during the Nor'Easter blasting the region. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: Trudging through the blowing and falling snow along Crest Ave. in Winthrop. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: Near white out conditions were part of the Nor'easter that blasted the region as a woman and her dog try to walk along Winthrop Shore Drive. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .Shovelling out the snow from the Nor'Easter that blanketed the region with snow in Winthrop. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: Snow plows keep up with the blizzard as they clean the streets in Winthrop. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: A dog and woman leave the beach on Winthrop Shore Drive as they get some exercise in the snow. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .Winthrop DPW snowplow driver skeep up the street clearing as a Nor'Easter blast the region. January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Strong winds out of the northwest buffet the iconic gatehouse adjacent to an entrance to the Aldrich Mansion along Narragansett Bay January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Strong winds out of the northwest buffet pylons jutting into Narragansett Bay January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Strong winds out of the northwest buffet a park bench overlooking Narragansett Bay at Rocky Point Park January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Strong winds out of the northwest blow along the fishing pier jutting out from Rocky Point Park into Narragansett Bay January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Despite a travel ban a Jeep makes its way through the unpaved snow along Warwick Neck Avenue January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Strong winds out of the northwest buffet the water tower on the estate of the Aldrich Mansion along Narragansett Bay January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
WARWICK, RI - JANUARY 29-SATURDAY: Craggy rocks are seen through blowing snow at Rocky Point Park along Narragansett Bay January 29, 2022, in Warwick, Rhode Island. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: . Storm driven waves pound on the seawall he morning high tide on Winthrop Shore Drive January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .A car turns around after trying to get through flooding on Short Beach at the Winthrop Revere townline. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .A day fit for a husky. This pup shakes snow of her coat during a walk in the blizzard. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Herald file photo
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .Starting to dig out in Winthrop as this man clears the early snow. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: A car blast through local flooding on Short Beach on the Revere-Winthrop line Revere Street in Winthrop. .January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .Starting to try and get ahead of the heavy snow this man on Revere Street in Winthrop clears his driveway.January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
Winthrop MA. - January 29: .Snow plow drivers are busy as a Nor'easter batters the coast January 29, 2022 in Winthrop, Massachusetts. (Photo By Jim Mahoney)
SCITUATE, MA - January 29: Fourteen year old Ryan Stone gets hit by a wave near Scituate Light during blizzard conditions on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
SCITUATE, MA - January 29: Houses get pummeled by waves along Lighthouse Road during blizzard conditions on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
SCITUATE, MA - January 29: Blizzard conditions at Scituate Light on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
SCITUATE, MA - January 29: A man cross country skis along the harbor during blizzard conditions on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
SCITUATE, MA - January 29: Fourteen year old Ryan Stone gets hit by a wave near Scituate Light during blizzard conditions on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)
Cohasset, MA - January 29: A runner braves the snow along Cohasset Common as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 29, 2022 in Cohasset, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: Plows clear in front of Ronnie Shones as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 29: A man clears the sidewalk along Front St in Scituate Harbor as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 29, 2022 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: A Bobcat clears a parking lot in North Scituate as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: Waves break along Minot Beach as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: Waves break along Minot Beach as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: Waves break along Minot Beach as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Scituate, MA - January 5: Waves break along Minot Beach as a Blizzard hits the South Shore on January 5, 2012 in Scituate, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the city appeared on track for somewhere in the ballpark of 20 to 25 inches by the time the flakes stop falling. She’d been out and about around the city with the superintendent of streets, at the traffic bunker in City Hall and at the homeless engagement center at Mass and Cass before circling back home to Roslindale.
“Things are going pretty smoothly,” Wu told the Herald in a phone call. There had been some minor flooding in places, plus some power outages, but no major storm-related incidents. She said this is a “historic” storm both in terms of its magnitude but also in the city’s response, with a record 920 pieces of snow-removal equipment on the streets.
“This has been an incredible effort that was planned out very carefully over our last several days,” Wu said, crediting lessons learned from the brutal winters of 2015 and 2018, which was the last time a blizzard hit Boston.
Wu asked for people to remain patient and stay at home as the cleanup continued.
“There’s plenty of amazing Tom Brady footage to watch,” Wu cracked, alluding to the reports that broke mid-storm that the former Patriots great is retiring.
Both Wu and Baker thanked the public for largely heeding their pleas and staying at home and off the roads, particularly during the whiteout conditions in the heart of the storm, which kept heavy bands of snow lingering over Boston and the South Shore for hours.
“It’s made life dramatically easier for people out there removing snow,” Baker said in his press conference, noting that the Department of Transportation had 3,000 apparatus out.
In Marshfield, a town that’s well sued to getting clobbered by major shoreline storms, a few people were out “gawking” at the waves in the morning, Harbormaster Michael DiMeo said, but there was “minimal, if any, marine traffic,” based on the automatic identification system, which helps large vessels avoid collisions.
“The ocean is very angry,” DiMeo said. “The waves are impressive, but it’s really all a wall of white … If there are boats out there, you can’t even see them.”
Logan International Airport was closed on Saturday, and a spokeswoman said the Massachusetts Port Authority had a “a very dedicated snow crew doing their best” to get the busy airport to reopen Sunday.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency activated all three of its emergency operations centers — in Framingham, Tewksbury and Agahelp — to monitor the storm’s impacts, coordinate response efforts and aid any communities that need help, MEMA spokesman Chris Besse said.
MBTA General Manager Steve Poftak said that about 20 to 25 T buses were stuck in the snow, but the subways largely held up, despite several vehicles getting stuck on Green Line tracks where they cross the streets.
More than 100,000 customers remained without power in coastal area for hours Saturday, according to data from the two major power companies in the region as their crews fought harsh conditions in the nor’easter that continues to pummel the Bay State.
The outages reported by Eversource and National Grid were heavily concentrated in the Cape Cod, South Shore and South Coast areas. Outages peaked for Eversource customers at about 112,700 in the 10 a.m. hour, according to William Hinkle, spokesman for the utility.
Power had been restored to 161,000 customers throughout the day, according to an Eversource statement at 4:30 p.m., including some who had lost power more than once.
Baker said the restoration of power and work on downed lines likely won’t happen in some places until the winds die down on Sunday, and that work likely will last into Monday. In the meantime, people should avoid downed power lines.
“We ask people to be patient. Tomorrow,” Baker said on Saturday evening, “will continue to be a very long day.”
