Worcester Schools Closed, Warming Center Opens Ahead Of Frigid Temps: What To Know

WORCESTER, MA — The city announced it will activate a warming center ahead of freezing temperatures on Friday.

A warming center at the Worcester Senior Center, at 128 Providence St., will be open to the public on Friday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This comes as the National Weather Service issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the state, effective at 7 p.m. Thursday and continuing through 11 a.m. Friday.

The state is expected to receive another winter storm, which could bring blizzard conditions to parts of Massachusetts this weekend.

Temperatures across most of Massachusetts, including Worcester, are expected to be cold, with wind chills as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The low temperatures on Thursday night and Friday night are expected to be -2 degrees Fahrenheit and -5 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.

A major winter storm hit Worcester and across New England, bringing 22.4 inches of snow to the city earlier this week.

Worcester declared a Winter Weather Emergency last Friday, which is still in effect as the city's Department of Public Works works to treat and remove snow from the roads.

Parking Ban In Worcester

A Declared Winter Parking Ban, which went into effect on Sunday, will also continue.

All municipal garages remain free of charge during the parking ban. Those include Major Taylor Garage (30 Major Taylor Blvd.), Federal Plaza Garage (570 Main St.), Pearl & Elm Garage (20 Pearl St.), Worcester Common Garage (3 Eaton Place), and Union Station Garage (225 Franklin St.).Worcester police have been ticketing and towing residents who are not in compliance with the ban.

The city said that as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the police department had issued 720 tickets and towed 400 cars.

Schools Closed

Worcester Public Schools announced it would be closed on Friday, Jan. 30.

Head Start and after-school activities are also canceled. But, all school-related athletic events scheduled for the afternoon and evening on Friday and Saturday will take place as scheduled.

Administrative offices will remain open.

The school district was also closed on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

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