Beverly Blizzard: Snow Emergency Parking Ban Starts Friday Night

BEVERLY, MA — The Beverly Fire Department is asking residents to prepare for a potentially historic storm on Friday and plan to stay inside on Saturday if at all possible.

"Remember to check your furnace vents for drifting snow during the storm," Beverly fire said. "Double-check your CO and smoke detectors (Friday). Stay off the roads during the storm — this includes going for a walk — and call us if you need us."

Commissioner of Public Services and Engineering Michael Collins declared a snow emergency parking ban to begin at midnight Friday night and last for "up to 24 hours."

Municipal lots will be available for those with no other accommodations. Meter fees must be paid during normal meter hours. The MBTA parking garage on Rantoul Street is available at discounted rates starting at 9 p.m.

Short-term parking downtown will be allowed. Overnight parking will not be allowed.

Residents are asked to keep hydrants and catch basins clear of snow and not to shovel any snow into the street.

All basketball hoops should be removed from the street.

The National Weather Service issued an official blizzard warning for all Massachusetts communities inside of Route 495 Friday morning.

A blizzard has winds of more than 35 mph and less than a quarter-mile of visibility.

The Cabot Street Cinema Theater said will be closed Saturday with all shows postponed. If you purchased tickets for a Saturday screening of "The French Dispatch" you can swap them for a different day or request a refund. Email [email protected] and let them know what you'd like to do.

Eversource is preparing for the likelihood of power outages due to downed trees or limbs by positioning line and tree crews across the state – including hundreds on loan from other states.

While some store shelves are likely to already be bare for necessities like milk, bread and eggs, Friday would also be the day to put together a pack of other essential items such as flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable foods, pet food and any needed medications.

Eversource advises residents to make sure cell phones and devices are fully charged.

Patch will post updates throughout what could be one of the biggest one-day snowfalls in recent North Shore history.

If you have any photos from the storm that you would like included in a possible gallery, send them — including the community where they were taken — to [email protected].

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)