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How Much Has This Winter Cost Tewksbury?

There has been a great deal of snow and ice to remove this winter. What's the price tag?

Question: Seems like we've had a lot of snowstorms this winter. How much has the town spent on snow and ice removal and salting and sanding? How bad will this impact the budget? Answer: This has, indeed, been a nasty winter and the bill is steep. According to Town Manager Richard Montuori, $241,000 was earmarked in the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget for snow and ice removal. Prior to Monday's storm, the town had spent $637,060 on snow and ice removal, creating a deficit of $399,110. According to Montuori, Monday's storm might add as much as $50,000 to that total. Under normal circumstances, this would create budgetary problems, as the deficit would have to be paid for out of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget. However, Montuori also set aside $600,000 …

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Avoid a Roof Collapse: Clear Snow From Your Rooftop

Light, fluffy snow on rooftops can act as a sponge for rain, which is in the forecast for Monday. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency offers these tips.

With rain in Tewksbury's forecast for Monday, the Blizzard of '13 may not be finished wreaking havoc in Massachusetts. While temperatures dropped overnight on Friday resulting in light, fluffy snow, he Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) warns that fluffy snow piled high on roofs can act as a sponge, absorbing rain and adding additional stress to structures. Relatively flat roofs are particularly vulnerable, MEMA says. In other cases, roof ice dams have formed causing water build-up, leading to interior damage. These conditions can accelerate the snowmelt. To minimize the risk of over-stressing a building roof due to accumulated or drifting snow: Information from a release by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA…

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Winter Weather Update

UPDATE: Storm Could Bring A Foot Of Snow, Playoff Game Postponed

Don't put away those winter jackets just yet.

UPDATED: Feb. 29, 4 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch that will continue through 6 p.m. Thursday. The warning covers for much of Massachusetts, including Tewksbury. The forecast has forced the postponement of Wednesday night's Division 2 North Girls Basketball Tournament game between North Andover and Tewksbury. Snow began Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning. Total accumulation is expected to be between 8 and 12 inches, along with a trace of ice. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 30s, with winds of 10-15 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. It's expected to be a fairly dry snow, making for slippery roadways during the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning commutes. Tewksbury Patch will…

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