Boston Digs Out After Blizzard Dumps 17 Inches of Snow

City remains in snow emergency as cleanup efforts continue

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Boston was hit with a powerful blizzard on Monday, leaving the city buried under 17.1 inches of snow. The city has declared a snow emergency, with a parking ban in place until at least 6 p.m. Tuesday as crews work to clear the streets and remove snow. Residents are responsible for clearing sidewalks around their properties, and many are using space savers to hold their shoveled-out parking spots.

Why it matters

The blizzard was one of the most significant winter storms to hit Boston in recent years, causing widespread disruption and requiring a major cleanup effort. The city's response and residents' efforts to dig out will be closely watched, as effective snow removal is crucial for maintaining public safety and transportation in the winter months.

The details

Several communities in Massachusetts received over 3 feet of snow, with Boston coming in at 17.1 inches at Logan Airport. Residents spent hours shoveling out their cars and clearing sidewalks, with some using creative space savers to hold their spots. The city has towed nearly 1,000 cars as crews focus on clearing main roads and school access points. Boston schools are closed for a second straight day, with the goal of reopening on Wednesday depending on the cleanup progress.

  • The blizzard hit Boston on Monday.
  • The snow emergency and parking ban were declared on Sunday ahead of the storm.
  • The parking ban will be in place until at least 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
  • Boston schools are closed on Tuesday, with the goal of reopening on Wednesday.

The players

Chloe Adamowicz

A South Boston resident who spent roughly 4 hours shoveling her car out on Monday night and another 30 minutes on Tuesday morning.

Harrison Mackinlay

A South Boston resident who had spent 45 minutes clearing out and had more work to do to get his car out.

Michelle Wu

The mayor of Boston, who said the city received feedback after the last major storm that lifting the parking ban too soon hampered snow removal efforts.

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What they’re saying

“I'd rather do it in increments than be stuck with a bigger problem.”

— Chloe Adamowicz (cbsnews.com)

“One of the worst storms I've seen at least. The hardest part is just finding where to put the snow. You've got to bring onto the banks here. You can't really throw it in the street, you don't want to throw it on the sidewalks. So that's probably one of the hardest parts.”

— Harrison Mackinlay (cbsnews.com)

“We're really trying to prioritize not just clearing the snow and pushing it to the side but removing it and taking it away to snow farms to be melted.”

— Michelle Wu, Mayor of Boston (WBZ-TV)

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 highlights the challenges Boston faces in effectively clearing snow from its streets and sidewalks, and the importance of coordinated efforts between the city government and residents to ensure public safety and mobility during the winter months.