Updated at 11:10 a.m. Jan. 31
So it’s your first winter in Boston. Perhaps you’ve never heard of a space saver or dug out a car, and all you know about French toast is that it’s the weak link in the pancake-waffle-French toast trifecta.
Or maybe you’ve lived here a while and simply cannot remember what a “snow emergency” is and what it means for parking.
There are the important basics for outlasting snowy weather anywhere, and it starts with storm prep. Before the snow hits, stock up on staples so that you won’t have to make the trek to the grocery store. If you have a car, put up your windshield wipers or they’ll freeze. Find your shovel, or buy one.
But then there are those Boston-area quirks that you just have to pick up on. We’re here to help so you don’t have to learn everything the hard way. We looked into it and found the answers — the basics, the quirks and the necessary.
- What is a snow emergency?
- Where can you park?
- What’s the deal with space savers?
- Will buses and trains still run?
- Do Boston Public Schools give snow days?
- How can you get out of the cold?
- You’re a renter and your heat is out. What can you do?
- How do you shovel snow?
- What’s the French toast alert?
- How should you dress for New England winter?
- How bad do Boston storms get?
- How cold are Boston winters?
- Enough with the logistics … let’s talk about snow fun
What is a snow emergency?
When heavy snow is coming, the city of Boston — specifically, the mayor — may declare a snow emergency. The primary thing it affects is roads: your car could get towed on streets where it is usually legal to park, and space savers are temporarily allowed.
You can sign up for emergency alerts on the city’s website to get an email, text or phone call whenever Boston declares a snow emergency.
Where can you park?
During a snow emergency, you can’t park on “major roads and arteries,” as the city calls them, so that plows and emergency vehicles can get through. Street signs will tell you if you’re squatting on one of those vessels, but there’s also a handy map that shows you what’s off limits.
If Boston’s mayor declares a snow emergency, parking gets a little tricky.
If you found a spot that looks open but there’s a piece of furniture or trash bin or some other large item — and it’s a snow emergency, and you’re not in South End — it’s a space saver, and you’re out of luck.
Some parking lots offer discounted or free parking during a snow emergency. Find a list on the city’s website.
If it’s not a snow emergency, follow any regulations on posted street signs. But move space savers at your own risk — there have been reports of keyed cars and slashed tires for taking spots other people dug out.
Every city makes its own decisions. If you live outside of Boston, check your town or city’s website.
What’s the deal with space savers?
It’s something to save your parking space and, yes, it’s legal. Dinky chairs, traffic cones, laundry bins and other large items all function as space savers after you’ve done the work of digging out your car and drive away.
Space savers are legal in a snow emergency, and for the 48 hours after it ends. One major exception: South End, where there’s been a ban on space savers since 2015.
Will buses and trains still run?
That always depends on the storm’s conditions. You can sign up to get emails or texts from the MBTA about service disruptions on the lines you care about, or follow the agency’s Twitter account.
Do Boston Public Schools give snow days?
Yes. Boston doesn’t build any extra days into its school calendar, so days canceled for the snow or cold get added on to the end of the school year.
You should receive a call from the district when it announces a snow day. You can also check by turning to a TV news channel or scoping out the BPS Twitter account.
How can you get out of the cold?
Boston Centers for Youth & Families may open up as warming centers during storms or severe cold. Call 311 to see what places are available to get warm.
There are sites not run by the city, too, and some of them offer overnight shelter. In cases of extreme winter weather, Pine Street Inn, the New England Center for Homeless Veterans and Rosie’s Place — a women’s facility — may offer daytime shelter.
More options are listed on the Boston Public Health Commission’s website.
You’re a renter and your heat is out. What can you do?
Your landlord must provide heating. Take it from the city government. By law, your landlord has to provide heating and hot water that meet certain temperature standards.
If there’s a problem with your heat, check with your utility company and check with your landlord. And, if your landlord isn’t responding, you can call Boston Inspection Services at 617-635-5322, or 311 after business hours.
You might also qualify for shut-off protection, which will keep your heat from getting shut off when your bill hasn’t been paid. Call your utility company and sign up for shut-off protection if any of those categories apply to you: senior citizens, low-income families with infants, people with serious illnesses who can't pay their bills, tenants whose landlords pay utilities and low-income people who would be without heat in the winter.
How do you shovel snow?
Different cities and towns have their own laws for clearing sidewalks and curbs, but the basic tips and tricks for snow removal are the same everywhere. If you ask the Boston subreddit, the recipe for shoveling around here is going out every 3 to 6 inches during a big storm so that you don’t strain yourself trying to shovel a foot of snow when all is said and done. (Other commenters had a different idea: have a drink or two, shovel once while it’s still coming down, go to bed and then finish off the job when the snow stops.) But you have to be a little quick about it.
In most Boston-area cities, property owners can be fined for not clearing snow off the sidewalks and curb ramps by their property in a timely fashion. In Boston, the law requires that sidewalks have a clear path three hours after it stops snowing — or three hours after sunrise, if it snowed overnight. And you can’t shovel into the street — that’s another cause for fines!
Clear sidewalks are important for both safety and accessibility: kids won’t have to wait in the street for school buses, and people with wheelchairs can get through.
Cities also set width minimums for the path you need to clear: Boston requires paths at least 42 inches wide; while Brookline, Cambridge and Somerville require clearings at least 36 inches wide.
And, if you can, something for everyone’s benefit: help your neighbors. It’s hard work, and people who are elderly or disabled might want a hand.
What’s the French toast alert?
Adam Gaffin at Universal Hub created the French Toast Alert System for Boston storms. One slice is nothing, five slices is severe.
“French toast storms have been a sort of joke around here for a long time,” Gaffin told GBH News. “Because when a storm's coming, people rush to the store to get bread, milk and eggs — the key ingredients for French toast.”
How do you dress for New England winter?
Layers, layers, layers. A warm coat, a good pair of boots, a scarf, gloves or mittens (must be warm, preferably waterproof).
If you’re wading into the snow, snow pants and waterproof outer layers will keep you warm and dry.
A lot of people swear by coats that go past their hips. And one body part that can get neglected? Ankles. Make sure your pants cover the top of your boots — or tuck in your pant legs — before walking out the door in your go-to storm outfit.
Try not to travel or go outside if it’s not safe. Heavy snow and high winds create dangerous conditions. It’s better to wait it out inside.
How bad do Boston storms get? Should you expect walls of snow on the sidewalk?
The 2015 storms made national news for a reason: it was Boston’s snowiest season ever, with 110 inches in all.
If you want a history lesson, Bostonians will tell you about the 1978 blizzard. More than two feet — 27.1 inches — blanketed the city. One longtime Southie resident pointed back to that storm as the origins of space savers today. It caused half a billion dollars in damage to Massachusetts and almost a hundred people across the Northeast died.
That’s not typical. But it’s Boston, so expect some snow.
On average, according to the National Weather Service, you can expect about 14 inches of total snowfall in January, and the same amount in February. Meanwhile, December and March bring an average of 9 inches of snow each.
How cold are Boston winters? How long do they last?
January is often the coldest month in Boston. The National Weather Service pegs the average daytime high temperature not far above freezing — 37 degrees Fahrenheit — so you can expect to see piles of snow getting taller and taller without much opportunity to melt.
February isn’t much warmer, with an average high of 39 degrees.
But then March gets up to 46 degrees during the daytime, and by April it’s a balmy 56.
The snow can be fun, right? What should you do when it’s safe to go out in the snow?
Tips for a “perfect snow day”? When it’s safe to go out, you could take a winter wonderland stroll — maybe through the Commons.
Plus, there’s pricey but decadent hot chocolate from L.A. Burdick (not sponsored, just telling you what Reddit says!).
Correction: This story was updated to correct that space savers are banned in the South End, not South Boston. Also, Boston Public Schools do not build in snow days into the year’s calendars, though the district would be allowed to under state guidance.
