Mayor Wu has declared a Cold Emergency in Boston through Sunday due to dangerously cold temperatures, and a Snow Emergency effective Sunday until further notice.
Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) community centers will be activated as warming centers during normal operating hours. Community members are encouraged to take precautions when traveling or spending time outdoors and are asked to check on elderly neighbors, vulnerable residents and to be cautious with pets in the severe weather.
In addition to the cold emergency, the City will begin Snow Emergency parking enforcement on Sunday morning.
Snow Emergency Enforcement Timeline
- Sunday, January 25 at 8:00 AM
- Boston Police will begin Phase 1 public announcements on posted Snow Emergency routes.
- Officers will use loudspeakers to notify drivers to remove vehicles from Snow Emergency arteries and street corners.
- Boston Police will begin Phase 1 public announcements on posted Snow Emergency routes.
- Sunday, January 25 at 9:00 AM
- Phase 2 enforcement begins, including tagging and towing of vehicles parked on posted Snow Emergency routes.
- Phase 2 enforcement begins, including tagging and towing of vehicles parked on posted Snow Emergency routes.
- Important
- Parking is prohibited on both sides of all posted Snow Emergency routes. There is no longer odd or even side parking during a snow emergency.
- Vehicles blocking hydrants, fire lanes, intersections, sidewalks, or driveways may be ticketed and towed at any time.
- Parking is prohibited on both sides of all posted Snow Emergency routes. There is no longer odd or even side parking during a snow emergency.
Snow Emergency Routes and Parking Restrictions by Neighborhood
Residents should move vehicles off posted Snow Emergency routes as soon as possible. Below is a summary of primary Snow Emergency routes by district.
Downtown Boston
Snow emergency routes include major corridors such as Beacon Street, Causeway Street, Charles Street, Commercial Street, Devonshire Street, Merrimac Street, State Street, Surface Road, Temple Place, and surrounding downtown connectors.
Designated Snow Emergency parking garages include:
- Lafayette Garage, 1 Lafayette Place (vehicles must be moved within 2 hours after the parking ban)
- Auditorium Garage, 50 Dalton Street
- Motor Mart Garage, 201 Stuart Street
Charlestown
Snow Emergency routes include:
Alford Street, Austin Street, Bunker Hill Street, Cambridge Street, Chelsea Street, Constitution Road, Fifth Avenue, Main Street, Medford Street, Mystic Avenue, Rutherford Avenue, Vine Street, Water Street, and Warren Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Shipyard Garage, 199 13th Street (free for Charlestown residents)
East Boston
Snow Emergency routes include:
Bennington Street, Boardman Street, Chelsea Street, Condor Street, Maverick Square, Meridian Street, Porter Street, Saratoga Street, Waldemar Avenue, and Walley Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- East Boston Municipal Parking Lot, 40 Porter Street
- East Boston Municipal Parking Lot, 166 to 180 London Street
- East Boston Municipal Parking Lot, 36 Bennington Street
Roxbury
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
Blue Hill Avenue, Columbia Road, Columbus Avenue, Dudley Street, Harrison Avenue, Huntington Avenue, Longwood Avenue, Ruggles Street, Tremont Street, Washington Street, MLK Boulevard, and Seaver Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Roxbury Municipal Lots at Ruggles Street, Roxbury Street, Blue Hill Avenue, Warren Avenue, Dudley Street
- Additional municipal lots located on Dudley Street and Georgia Street
Mattapan
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
American Legion Highway, Blue Hill Avenue, Cummins Highway, and River Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Mattapan Municipal Parking Lot, 451 River Street
- Mattapan Municipal Parking Lot, 23 Fairway Street
- Dorchester Municipal Parking Lots on Washington Street
South Boston
Snow Emergency routes include major corridors such as:
A Street, B Street, C Street, D Street, Congress Street, East First Street, Northern Avenue, Southampton Street, Summer Street, and West First and Second Streets.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- South Boston Municipal Parking Lots on West Broadway and East Broadway
- Marine Industrial Park Garage, 12 Drydock Avenue
- The Alyx Garage, 59 East Service Road
- Channel Center Garage, 116 West First Street
Dorchester
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
Adams Street, Bowdoin Street, Columbia Road, Dorchester Avenue, Granite Avenue, Neponset Avenue, Washington Street, and Quincy Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Multiple Dorchester Municipal Parking Lots on Bowdoin Street, Belden Street, Washington Street, Adams Street, Dudley Street, Georgia Street, Blue Hill Avenue, and Hamlet Street
Back Bay, Fenway, South End
Snow Emergency routes include major corridors such as:
Beacon Street, Clarendon Street, Dartmouth Street, Harrison Avenue, Herald Street, Hemenway Street, Northampton Street, and surrounding Back Bay connectors.
Designated Snow Emergency parking garages include:
- Auditorium Garage, 50 Dalton Street
- Christian Science Plaza Garage
- Lafayette Garage
- Clarendon Garage
- Stanhope Garage
- Motor Mart Garage
- Northeastern University garages (resident sticker access)
Brighton and Allston
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
Brighton Avenue, Cambridge Street, Chestnut Hill Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Market Street, and Washington Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Allston Municipal Parking Lot, 115 Harvard Avenue
- Brighton Municipal Parking Lot, 398 Market Street
- Harvard University Parking Facility, 111 Western Avenue
Roslindale and West Roxbury
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
Centre Street, Corinth Street, Cummins Highway, South Street, and Washington Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Roslindale Municipal Parking Lot, 10 Taft Hill Terrace
- West Roxbury Municipal Parking Lots on Corey Street and Centre Street
Jamaica Plain
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
Centre Street, South Huntington Avenue, South Street, Washington Street, and Hyde Park Avenue.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Jamaica Plain Municipal Parking Lots on Centre Street and Washington Street
Hyde Park and Readville
Primary Snow Emergency routes include:
American Legion Highway, Cummins Highway, Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park Avenue, and River Street.
Designated Snow Emergency parking:
- Hyde Park Municipal Parking Lots on Hyde Park Avenue and Winthrop Street
Cold Weather Safety
Residents are encouraged to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, protect pets, and check on neighbors. BCYF community centers will serve as warming centers during normal operating hours.
For cold weather safety tips and city updates, visit Boston 311:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/311/cold-weather-safety-tips