Snowstorm wallops Boston with 20 more inches; records fall

John Bacon | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Boston buried under record snowfall Two of Boston’s 10 biggest snowstorms ever recorded have occurred in the past two weeks and today’s could add to that number.

The third major storm in two weeks blasted a wide swath of beleaguered New England with more than 2 feet of snow Monday, again smashing records and paralyzing travel in hard-hit Boston.

After setting a seven-day snow record last week, Boston had 22 inches of fresh snow, and the storm was forecast to last into Tuesday in some areas. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency, clearing the way for him to request snow-removal help from neighboring states.

"It's otherworldly," said Shmuel Bollen, 50, of Natick. "Shoveling the driveway becomes like painting a bridge. As soon as you get to the end, you have to go back and start again."

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority suspended subway, trolley and commuter rail service at 7 p.m. and said they would remain closed Tuesday while crews check and repair snow-damaged equipment. Nearly 50 commuters were evacuated from a disabled Red Line train in Quincy after being stranded for more than two hours.

More than two feet of snow was recorded in Quincy, Cohasset and Weymouth, Mass., the National Weather Service reported.

Monday's snow depth in Boston was 37 inches, which was the city's largest depth ever recorded since weather records began.

The National Weather Service's Boston office said on Twitter that the city has received 76.5 inches of snow so far this winter. But nearby Providence, R.I., got just 4.2 inches of snow from this storm, the weather service reported.

Boston set a record for the most snow recorded in a 30-day period, with 71.8 inches, breaking the record of 58.8 inches set in February 1978.

Bangor, Maine, tied its own 30-day snowfall record with 53 inches, which hasn't been seen in such a short period since 1969, the National Weather Service said.

Weather service meteorologist David Manning said the storm was hitting hardest in Massachusetts, southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire. But once again, eastern Massachusetts was bearing the brunt of the storm.

"In eastern Massachusetts, we are certainly looking for 18 to 24 inches before it's all over," Manning told USA TODAY. "It's adding insult to injury given what the region has seen this winter."

Boston was blasted with 16 inches of snow Feb. 2, less than a week after 2 feet of snow paralyzed the city. With a total of 40.5 inches in a week, the city broke its all-time seven-day snowfall record.

It has snowed in Boston on 13 of the last 17 days, the weather service said.

More than 2,000 commercial flights were canceled Monday, most of them scheduled into or out of Boston and New York City airports, according to FlightAware.com.

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Mass. Gov.: MBTA performance 'unacceptable' Boston's transit system, the nation's oldest, has been particularly hard hit this winter. The buildup of snow and ice on trolley tracks combined with aging equipment has stalled trains, delaying and angering commuters. (Feb. 9)

Baker ordered state offices closed Monday and urged businesses to allow workers to stay home. But he had harsh words for the transportation authority.

"We have been frustrated, disappointed with the performance of the 'T'," Baker said, referring to Boston's rapid transit network. He said authority leaders had assured him they were prepared to keep trains running on an abbreviated schedule. Even that proved difficult.

"Once it stops snowing, we plan on having a long conversation" with MBTA officials, he said. "This performance is not acceptable."

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh ordered public schools closed Monday and Tuesday. That will make nine canceled days this year.

"I'm frustrated. The last thing I want to be talking about is another 24 inches of snow. I want to move on to something else," Walsh said. "Maybe up in Alaska or Buffalo, they have this amount of snow and they're used to it."

Even more snow may be on the way. A system forecast to reach the area Thursday could bring 6 or more inches, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told USA TODAY..

In Andover, Mass., Eric Walker's business trip meant making conference calls from his hotel room Monday. He had ventured out of his hotel only briefly, to view up close the massive piles of snow in the parking lot.

"Dinner will be whatever they have downstairs," he said.

His wife, Michele, was at their home in Olive Branch, Miss.

"He's weary after 24 hours, poor southern guy," she said. "It's a breezy 46 degrees in Mississippi this morning. I think I'll stay here. That's winter enough for me."

Contributing: Doyle Rice and William M. Welch; Associated Press