| 🌨️ A mix of rain and snow, with a high near 41. |
The New England Patriots got some 2008/2012 revenge over the New York Giants with last night's 33-15 win. The Pats now have a 11-2 record as they head into their bye week. And Drake Maye is building a case for league MVP with throws like this. Now, to the news: Massachusetts' first snowstorm of the season arrives today. But unless you're trying to make some sort of Thanksgiving leftovers-involved French toast, you don't need to rush out for bread, milk and eggs. Meteorologist Danielle Noyes has all the details here on the wintry mix headed our way. Here are three quick things to know: - This storm will be very different across Massachusetts: Stop me if this sounds familiar from last year, but the amount of snow you see will differ a lot depending on where you are. According to Noyes, southeastern Massachusetts will mostly see rain, but inland parts of the state could get over 6 inches — maybe even up to a foot in the Berkshires and along the New Hampshire border. To note, a snow day and parking ban are in effect in Worcester, but it's business as usual in Boston. Around the I-495 belt is where there's currently the most uncertainty about the amount of snow, according to the National Weather Service. (Click here for the NWS's latest snowfall prediction map.)
- Watch out for the p.m. commute: This morning's commute should generally be OK. The storm isn't expected to arrive until later this morning, and it will be too warm in the Boston area for any snow to stick by then. But the afternoon could get messy. That's when the bulk of the rain and snow is expected to fall. "The timing right now is not ideal," Jonathan Gulliver, the undersecretary for MassDOT and state highway administrator, told WBUR's Fausto Menard. "This is why we're really advising the public to take public transportation if you can [today] and give yourself a lot of extra time if you are going to be on the roadway." Even in areas that just get rain, there's a risk of water puddling and freezing on the roads. Black ice could also linger into the Wednesday morning commute.
- Will Boston get any snow? Maybe a coating: According to Noyes, colder air could filter in just before the storm ends for the rain to change to wet snow tonight. But it depends on the timing. "If the flip happens quickly and the snow comes down hard, snow might briefly whiten things up," Noyes wrote. "But with surface temps still above freezing, it’ll be difficult for anything to stick on roads."
LIHEAP latest: Massachusetts officials expect to finally get federal heating assistance funds for low-income residents this week. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said yesterday that the money (which was delayed amid the government shutdown) was released to states the day before Thanksgiving. - The money still needs to be processed. The state's Office of Housing and Livable Communities said they expect it by midweek. "We are working with local administering agencies to be prepared to get funding out the door as soon as possible once it is made available," a spokesperson told WBUR's John Bender.
- PSA: An estimated 160,000 people in Massachusetts rely on LIHEAP for heating assistance, and local advocates say you shouldn't wait to sign up. (They also say the income limits are higher than many expect; for example, this year it's nearly $100,000 for a family of four.) Here's a step-by-step guide on how to apply.
Meet the new test, not like the old test: After voters approved a ballot question last year to get rid of the MCAS as a Massachusetts high school graduation requirement, a council convened by Gov. Maura Healey unveiled its initial recommendation yesterday for a new requirement: It also includes a test. - The difference: Actually passing the new end-of-course tests would not be a requirement for graduating. Healey's office said the new tests — administered at the end of specific high school courses — would be a "more targeted and relevant approach" to assessing how well students mastered a subject.
- The debate: The state's largest teachers union said the proposed test still "defies the will of the voters" in 2024 — which Healey rebuked as "inaccurate." State House News Service has lots more on the debate here.
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| | | Nik DeCosta-Klipa Senior Editor, Newsletters | | |
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