Healey urges caution, warns of travel delays during Tuesday’s nor’easter

With heavy snowfall predicted for the morning and evening commutes tomorrow, Gov. Maura Healey is encouraging “public preparedness” ahead of Tuesday’s nor’easter. 

Healey announced Monday afternoon that non-emergency state workers will be working from home Tuesday, and all RMV sites will be closed as the state prepared for 8 to 12 inches of snow.

The winter storm warning will begin Tuesday at 1 a.m., and the heaviest snowfall will wreak havoc during commutes, Healey said.

“Although we don’t anticipate a record-breaking snowfall, our administration has been taking early steps to ensure we are prepared to keep the people of Massachusetts safe,” she said in a statement. 

By early Monday evening, some meteorologists are predicting less snow than initially thought. According to one map, Boston may only get up to 5 inches of snow.

Traveling by train or car

Along with urging caution on the roads, Healey said to remember to clear ice and snow from car windows, lights, hoods, and roofs before getting on the roads. Drivers are also asked to give plows and maintenance vehicles a wide berth and to not pass them on the right.

MassDOT will be closing the high occupancy vehicle lane on Tuesday, and the agency warns of low visibility on roads from Monday night through Tuesday afternoon. In Revere, the Winthrop Parkway will close at 9 p.m. Monday night until Wednesday.

The MBTA will mostly be running as scheduled — including the Red Line shuttles between Harvard and Alewife, then Park and Alewife after 8:45 p.m. The Mattapan Line will be replaced with shuttles to protect the 80-year-old trolleys from the storm, Healey announced.

Bus routes are set to operate on regular weekday bus service, but some routes could still switch to their snow routes, Healey said. Snow routes, which affect none of the major bus lines, are similar to Saturday service, according to the MBTA.

Other services including the ferries and commuter rail are planning to run on their normal schedules, but disruptions are still possible, Healey said.

How to stay safe

Power outages are expected across the area, so residents should fully charge their phones and essential electronics, and even consider packing an emergency kit with extra winter clothes or blankets, the governor said on Monday afternoon.

Healey also said to manually check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and to check outside fuel exhaust vents for ice and snow blockage.