Blizzard 2026 Batters North Shore: Power Outages, Parking Bans, School Closures

Updated 5 p.m.

PEABODY, MA — Drivers were urged to stay off the roads across the North Shore Monday afternoon as crews worked to clear roads and repair power outages from downed trees and power lines amid 65+ mph wind gusts.

Many cities and towns in Essex County were socked with up to a foot of snow from the storm that dropped up to 3 feet of snow across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and left many towns on Cape Cod in the dark, potentially for days.

Students across Essex County will get a second day of extended school vacation with Tuesday classes canceled. Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott Public Schools announced Tuesday school closures on Monday afternoon.

Danvers town offices will also remain closed.

"MPD is reminding all residents and visitors to stay off the streets during this major storm/Nor'easter/Blizzard until it ends," Marblehead police posted on social media. "The road and driving conditions are dangerous due to the high winds, limited visibility and snow accumulations. The only ones on the roads should be the people trying to keep you safe.

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"Our Electric Light, DPW, Harbormaster, Schools, Police and Fire Crews are right now maintaining a critical level of safety during the peak of this storm. Your presence on the streets is impeding operations. And - you are putting yourself and others in harm's way."

Earlier in the day, Hamilton police pleaded with residents to only dial 911 in case of a "true emergency" as virtually all other communications were cut off with the station and the entire town was without power.

Power outages were also reported in Beverly, Salem and Peabody.

"For many people today, outages have been caused by high winds just ripping wires out of their connections," Peabody Municipal Light Plant posted early Monday afternoon. "Also, trees have fallen on wires and torn them down, and in one case, felled poles. Slowly, things are getting resolved. Thankfully, no car accidents.

"This is a good day to stay home if you can."

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said that about 500 customers in that city were without power on Monday morning and that streets were not passable.

"Visibility is effectively zero," he said. "Multiple vehicles have become stuck. Do not drive during the storm. You'll put yourself and first responders in danger."

Cities and towns across the North Shore canceled school and closed municipal buildings, including libraries and senior centers, on Monday. Trash and recycling pickups were delayed one day this week throughout the region.

Most of the parking bans were set to go through at least Tuesday morning.

Children's Island in Salem recorded a wind gust of 67 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service.

Rockport reported 11.0 inches of snow as of 3 p.m. with 9.6 inches reported in Danvers, 9.3 inches reported in Swampscott and 9.0 inches reported in Lynnfield.