Salem Lifts Snow Emergency, Asks Residents To Move Cars From Lots

SALEM, MA -- Salem and other North Shore communities were lifting snow emergencies and on-street parking bans overnight. Salem's ban was officially lifted at 4:30 am, and the city was asking people to move cars from school parking lots, which would be opening a few hours later.

A storm that had at one time been predicted to dump a foot or more of snow on the North Shore mostly fizzled and stayed off shore. At 5:30 am, snow forecasts had been downgraded to just an inch or two. That presented a logistical challenge for cities like Salem, which declare snow emergencies to clear streets of cars. The problem is that those cars are often moved to municipal and school lots and, when the snow doesn't come, the schools open up.

While it is snowing in some parts of the state, ground temperatures are above freezing, meaning accumulation is expected to be minimal.