Boston Public Schools Closed as Blizzard Pummels City

Mayor Wu urges residents to stay home and clear snow safely amid power outages and hazardous conditions

Feb. 23, 2026 at 10:41pm

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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the closure of Boston Public Schools on Tuesday and extended the city's snow emergency and parking ban until at least 6 p.m. as a powerful blizzard dumped over 15 inches of snow on the city. Wu urged residents to stay home, shovel sidewalks and around fire hydrants, and clear snow from their cars safely, as city crews responded to numerous emergency calls for downed trees and power outages.

Why it matters

The blizzard conditions have created hazardous travel and safety concerns across Boston, prompting the mayor to take precautionary measures to protect public safety and allow city crews to effectively clear the snow. The school closure and extended emergency declaration aim to keep residents off the roads and allow for efficient snow removal efforts.

The details

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, over 15 inches of snow had fallen in Boston, with many neighborhoods seeing even more. The city had over 900 snow plows operating at the height of the storm, and crews responded to at least 25 emergency calls for downed trees. While some power outages were reported, many have been resolved. The mayor urged residents to shovel sidewalks at least 42 inches wide and around fire hydrants, and to avoid throwing snow into the street. Residents were also warned of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and to stay away from downed power lines.

  • As of 3 p.m. on Monday, over 15 inches of snow had fallen in Boston.
  • At the height of the storm, the city had 900 snow plows operating.
  • The snow emergency and parking ban were extended until at least 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

The players

Michelle Wu

The mayor of Boston who announced the school closures and urged residents to stay home and clear snow safely.

Boston Public Schools

The public school system in Boston that will be closed on Tuesday due to the blizzard conditions.

Boston Public Works

The city department responsible for the snow removal efforts, with over 900 plows operating at the height of the storm.

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What they’re saying

“We need everyone to stay home.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (boston25news.com)

“Please shovel out your cars sooner rather than later. Try not to throw snow out into the street or sidewalk.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (boston25news.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This blizzard has created significant challenges for the city of Boston, prompting the mayor to take strong measures to protect public safety and allow for efficient snow removal. Residents are urged to heed the warnings and work together to clear the snow safely, as the city's response efforts continue.