Travel Ban Massachusetts as Monster Storm Hammers Southern New England and Forces School Closures
A historic bomb cyclone dumped more than two feet of snow across parts of southern New England and prompted a travel ban massachusetts as officials moved to limit road travel and begin recovery efforts.
Travel Ban Massachusetts covers four hardest-hit counties
Governor Maura Healey issued a ban on non-essential vehicle travel in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Plymouth, citing dangerous road conditions across southeastern Massachusetts. The ban was the state’s first travel ban in over a decade, and officials warned that those who violate it could face a $500 fine.
Record snow totals and hurricane-strength gusts
The first blizzard to hit New England since 2022 dropped blinding snow and brutal winds, with even thundersnow reported particularly on Cape Cod and the South Coast. Whitman recorded 33. 7 inches for a 24-hour snowfall total, breaking the old mark of 29 inches set in Natick during the April Fools’ Day storm in 1997, the Globe’s Weather Team said. Logan Airport in Boston recorded 16. 9 inches, the National Weather Service said Monday night.
Cape Cod, islands and airports battered by wind and snow
Coastal areas saw winds topping 70 miles per hour, and Nantucket recorded a 78-mph wind gust shortly after 10: 30 a. m. ET, the strength of a Category 1 hurricane. By 8 p. m. ET, T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island had reached 37. 9 inches. Dighton, New Bedford, Swansea, and Taunton each reported more than two feet of snow from Monday’s nor’easter.
Road travel paralyzed; flights grounded and schools canceled
The storm paralyzed road travel and grounded hundreds of local flights. State Police responded to more than 400 disabled vehicles on roadways through Monday afternoon, and dozens of school districts across the state canceled classes for Tuesday for a second straight day. The MBTA will continue to operate Tuesday with reduced service,.
Mass outages, recovery hurdles and local warnings
More than 269, 534 people in Massachusetts were without power as of late Monday night. Officials warned residents could face a "multiday power restoration" because high winds and blocked roads prevent utility crews in bucket trucks from safely reaching downed lines. In Scituate, Town Administrator James Boudreau told residents to brace for multiple days without power and said, "Things are a mess. "
Bombogenesis and the storm’s rapid intensification
The Globe weather team said the nor’easter accelerated on Sunday night into a bomb cyclone through bombogenesis, with its central pressure dropping 24 millibars or greater within 24 hours. The snow fell heavily for hours while high winds whipped through the region, a combination that prompted Healey to ban non-essential travel in a large section of southeastern Massachusetts.
Local effects that complicated emergency response
Downed power lines, felled trees, abandoned cars and stuck vehicles complicated the state’s response. those factors, along with the high winds, have delayed restoration and access for crews. Jonathan Darling, a spokesperson for the city of New Bedford, said, "Thirty inches of snow is no joke, that’s for sure. "
The National Guard — unclear in the provided context.
Officials have said restoration efforts will wait for winds to ease and roads to be cleared so utility crews can work safely; with more than a quarter-million customers still without power, authorities urged patience. The next confirmed operating plan is that the MBTA will run Tuesday with reduced service and dozens of school districts will remain closed Tuesday as communities continue to dig out.
