Boston Declares Historic Blizzard Recovery Underway, Schools to Reopen Monday

BOSTON — July 19, 2026 — Boston officials declare historic blizzard response underway after record 23.8-inch storm. Mayor Michelle Wu, Chief of Streets Yasha Franklin-Hodge, and City Council President Ed Flynn spoke Saturday from the Boston Transportation Department's Traffic Management Center, where crews had been working for more than 28 hours. The storm, officially designated a blizzard by the National Weather Service, was the second-largest January snowfall and seventh-largest overall in Boston history, tying the 2003 single-day record. At its peak, the city deployed 940 pieces of snow removal equipment — surpassing the standard full deployment of 800 with contractor support. Wu extended the snow emergency through 6 a.m. Monday to allow targeted snow blower operations along major arteries, with removed snow trucked to nine designated snow farm sites around the city. Schools were announced open for Monday. Space savers must be removed by 6 a.m. Wednesday, and city officials warned tickets will be issued for unshoveled sidewalks. The 311 call center received 1,200 calls in a single day, with staff working 12-hour shifts.