Several people and one not-so-helpful dog dig themselves out on Bonney Street in Fairhaven on Tuesday afternoon, 3/13/18, after a snow-packed nor’easter abated a bit. Snow was still coming down around 4 p.m., and it was still pretty windy, but the blizzard-like conditions were mostly over. Snow continued until around 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Warm temperatures on Wednesday melted snow in the streets, but the large piles from so much snow will linger for awhile. Photo by Beth David.
Young Jadyn of Fairhaven grows an icicle on his face as he enjoys a snow day after the blizzard of 2018 dumped more than 11 inches of snow in Fairhaven. Photo courtesy of Courtney Donovan.
By Beth David, Editor
The region got hit hard with another northeast storm this week, this one with snow, creating blizzard conditions. It was one of the worst snowstorms ever in March, and reached official blizzard status on most municipalities on Cape Cod and Southeastern Mass. Boston reached blizzard status, too, which requires least three hours of large amounts of snow or blowing snow, sustained winds of more than 35 miles per hour, and visibility less than 1/4 mile.
Some places north and west of Boston got 28” inches of snow. Closer to home, Fall River hit the jackpot with 18 inches according to the National Weather Service. Parts of Acushnet got 16”, New Bedford and Dartmouth both got 14”, and Fairhaven got 11.5”. Wind gusted to 80 miles per hour in Falmouth, with 60-70 MPH closer to home.
Schools were closed for both Tuesday and Wednesday in most of the state. The storm hit in the early morning on Tuesday and continued throughout the day. Widespread power outages continued through press time on Wednesday, with more than 100,000 still out.
A man walks east on Washington Street in Fairhaven with that much-needed gallon of milk during the blizzard on Tuesday, 3/13/18. Photo by Beth David.
High winds continued on Wednesday, but the bright sun and milder temperatures caused a lot of melting as people continued to dig out.
Acushnet did not open its warming center for this storm, but Fairhaven did open its shelter at Hastings Middle School. No one used the shelter at HMS, and it closed down at 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Todd Correia, the department responded to 15 power line calls and two carbon monoxide calls. No injuries resulted from the CO2 calls. There were also a smoke scare call, one false alarm and a fire at Union Wharf.
“Power lines were our biggest calls of the day,” said Lt. Correia.
A pole at Union Wharf snapped, sending three transformers into the water, dropping a live wire on the ground, and trapping someone on his lobster boat in the basin. The fisherman was able to get off his boat safely, and the area was cordoned off. That happened Tuesday evening, and the area was cleared at 9 p.m.
Fairhaven Harbormaster Timothy Cox (behind fence) watches as the pole and its three transormers are lifted out of the hole at Union Wharf on Wednesday, after a fire started from the live wire. Fairhaven Fire Department photos by Ed Pepin.
A charred hole in the pier at Union Wharf in Fairhaven marks the spot where a pole with three transformers on it crashed on Tuesday afternoon, sending the transformers into the water. The live wire eventually caused the wood to catch fire. Fairhaven Fire Department photo by Ed Pepin.
Unfortunately, Eversource was not able to get to the area right away, and the live wire eventually caused a fire on the dock. The department was called around 5 a.m. on Wednesday.
No boats were damaged, said Lt. Correia, but the investigation revealed that the pole that went down had three transformers on it. Officials called the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection, and Eversource called in Clean Harbors to deal with any environmental issues. The town’s Harbormaster was also on hand, and the Coast Guard was notified of the incident.
Eversource is providing a generator for boats in the lobster basin to use for bilge pumps, etc., until power can be restored to Union Wharf.
Lt. Correia noted that volunteers from the town’s Emergency Management Agency helped at the shelter and by blocking streets.
Dave, a custodian at Fairhaven Town Hall, is waist deep in snow as he clears the sidewalk in front of town hall on Tuesday, 3/13/18. The heavy snow was too much for the snowblower. Photo by Beth David.
Dave, a custodian at Fairhaven Town Hall, is waist deep in snow as he clears the sidewalk in front of town hall on Tuesday, 3/13/18. The heavy snow was too much for the snowblower. Photo by Beth David.
Two lobster boats moored at Hoppy’s Landing face in different directions due to whipping winds changing directions too fast for the boats to keep up during the blizzard on Tuesday, 3/13/18. Photo by Beth David.
Two lobster boats moored at Hoppy’s Landing face in different directions due to whipping winds changing directions too fast for the boats to keep up during the blizzard on Tuesday, 3/13/18. Photo by Beth David.
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