Peabody Declares Parking Ban Ahead Of Wednesday's Snow Storm

PEABODY, MA -- The city wasted know time declaring a snow emergency ahead of Wednesday's storm, being one of the first cities in the region to do so. Parking will be banned on city streets starting at 6 am Wednesday morning. The parking ban will be in effect until the city lifts the snow emergency.

The city will post a notice on its Website when it has been lifted. Vehicles have to removed from the street by the start of the ban. If you do not have off-street parking, there may be options available in your area. Call 978-538-6312 for more information.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Wednesday. Snow is expected to accumulate in the range of 2 to 4 inches in Peabody, with snowfall starting late Wednesday morning and continuing into Thursday afternoon. It could mix with rains at times, so get ready for a heavy, wet snow.

As the storm forecast solidified, several Peabody-area businesses and institutions announced early closings for Wednesday. They include:

• North Shore Community College is closing at 5 pm Wednesday.
• Salem State University is closing at 1:30 pm Wednesday.

Peabody Patch will update this list and article as more information become available.

DPW crews have more than 170 miles of roadways to clear in Peabody, so while the city does not have an ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks of snow, it says their help in doing so is "greatly appreciated." Peabody officials also ask for residents' help in digging out the 1,800 fire hydrants in the city.

Finally, the city asks residents to call 978-536-7114 with specific service requests during storms. This, the city says, is the most efficient way to contact the city during a snowstorm.

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Patch file photo.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).