Somerville declares snow emergency effective Sunday, February 22, at 12 p.m. noon

On February 21, 2026, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

Move vehicles by 4 p.m., Sunday, February 22, to odd-numbered side of street (unless otherwise posted) to avoid ticketing and towing

Parking is also allowed in City-owned lots (but not in school lots)

Based on current weather forecasts, the City is declaring a snow emergency to go into effect at 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday, February 22. Residents can help DPW crews work efficiently and keep emergency routes clear for fire trucks, police, and ambulances by following the guidelines below.

Move your car to the ODD side unless otherwise posted:

Beginning at 12 p.m. (noon), cars will have four hours (until 4 p.m.) to move to the ODD side of the street (unless signage on your street says otherwise). Any exceptions to this parking rule will be noted by nearby signs.
Residents may begin moving their cars to the odd-numbered side as early as they like, but cars must be moved by 4 p.m. Sunday to avoid ticketing and towing.
Moving cars to one side makes room for plows and emergency vehicles, so thank you for doing your part.
Do not park within 20 feet of a corner to allow snow plows and emergency vehicles to clear corners and make turns. Cars parked too close to corners may be ticketed and/or towed.

You may park in City-owned parking lots but not school lots:

City-owned parking lots are also available for snow emergency parking. You may move your car into designated City lots starting at 12 p.m. (noon) on Sunday. For a full list of available City-owned parking lots, visit somervillema.gov/snow.
School parking lots are not available for parking during snow emergencies and gates will be locked at 4 p.m. on Sunday. Vehicles that are not removed from school lots before 4 p.m. Sunday may be locked in the lot, ticketed, and towed.

If you do use City-owned lots, please note:

All cars must be removed from City parking lots within two hours of the end of the emergency.
Snow emergencies can be lifted at any time, including during work hours, so if you may be unable to move your car out of a City lot at potentially short notice, please find alternative parking.

Bike lanes, cycle tracks, and the Community Path:

Bike lanes and cycle tracks will be plowed as part of City snow removal by specialized tractors. However, during and immediately after a storm, please use caution or consider another form of transportation as bike lanes may have ice and snow buildup.
Please be mindful of our snow clearing crews on the Community Path. Brief, temporary closures of the Path are possible during and after a storm to allow for snow removal. You can call 311 (617-666-3311) to check on Community Path closures.

Snow-related closures; Trash delay:

For information about any impacts to City offices, services, or programming, visit somervillema.gov/snowclosures or contact 311 (617-666-3311).
Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day for the full week.

GENERAL SNOW EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Sidewalk Shoveling: To ensure safe passage for all, property owners are responsible for removing snow and ice from sidewalks abutting their property within six daylight hours of the end of snowfall. Snow must be cleared down to the pavement and paths must be a minimum of 3 feet wide.

Avoid Parking within 20 Feet of an Intersection: To leave enough clearance for plows and emergency vehicles, cars parked within 20 feet of an intersection may be subject to ticketing and towing if they are deemed to be likely to restrict access. This regulation is enforced as needed and is especially important on narrower streets.

Snow Shoveling Assistance: The Somerville Teen Shoveling program is a paid program for youth to shovel out the homes of seniors or persons with disabilities after significant snowfall in Somerville. Teens and homeowners are paired for the season. You must apply and be paired with teen shovelers well in advance of a storm. To ask about signing up for future storms, contact the Council on Aging at 617-625-6600 x2300.

Snow Emergency Parking & Exceptions (why some streets have even-side parking this season): When winter begins in an odd-numbered year – like this winter, the winter of 2025/26 – parking is only allowed on the odd-numbered side of the street during a snow emergency. However, a limited number of streets always have even-side parking during snow emergencies. Typically, these are one-way streets where year-round parking is only allowed on the even side due to space constraints. In some cases, they are streets that have parking on both sides of the street but that have no buildings on one side of the street for the duration of the plow route. In these cases, parking may only be allowed on the side of the street with homes. Please check signs on your street.

Plan Ahead: In winter, it’s always good to plan ahead. Once a snow emergency starts, you will have four hours to move your car, so if you are traveling or working, park on the correct side before you leave in case moving your car in time could be difficult.

City Alerts: Community members are encouraged to sign up for Somerville City Alerts to receive emergency phone, email, and/or text message alerts and important information for your neighborhood. Sign up for alerts at somervillema.gov/alerts or by calling 311 (617-666-3311).

When are snow emergencies declared? A snow emergency may be declared whenever four or more inches of snow are predicted. City officials closely monitor storm forecasts through various means, and use all available information to make an informed decision that takes into account forecasted snow accumulations, pavement temperatures, post-storm temperatures, the existence of remaining snow from previous storms, and other factors.

How to stay informed about snow emergencies: Once a snow emergency has been declared, residents are notified via multiple lines of communication, including: City Alerts; City TV (Comcast Ch. 15 & 22, RCN Ch. 13, 15, & 613); local media (online, radio, print, TV, etc.); City social media including facebook.com/SomervilleCity, facebook.com/311Somerville, instagram.com/somervillecity/, and Bluesky @cityofsomerville.bsky.social; the City website somervillema.gov; and flashing blue lights activated at 22 key intersections (when lights are flashing, a snow emergency is in effect).

Be a good neighbor:

Please consider checking on seniors or persons with disabilities during and after snowstorms to ensure they are safe; have all the basic supplies, food/water, and medication they need; and that they have heat and are safe if there are power outages.
If you are physically able, please consider clearing storm drains in advance of storms, or shoveling out fire hydrants after snowfall. Always take breaks when you shovel.
If you have a driveway, please consider sharing it with tenants, neighbors, or friends during snow emergencies to free up spaces on the street (they might even help you shovel out as a thank you).
If you feel comfortable and safe doing so, if you see a neighbor parking on the wrong side of the street, consider sharing snow emergency parking information with them and encouraging them to sign up for City Alerts.