Despite the forecast, Boston remained mostly snow-free Tuesday. Few residents seemed upset that they were spared, except for the town’s children – who were robbed of real snow on a snow day – and their working parents, who were forced to make alternative childcare plans.
School officials canceled Tuesday’s classes nearly a day early, citing dire forecasts as of Monday morning that expected a foot or more of snow. Max Baker, a spokesman for the Boston Public Schools, said the district of more than 47,000 students tries to reduce unrest by giving plenty of warning.
“Climbing at 6pm is a nightmare for many families,” he said.
But then the forecast changed Monday night, and the storm’s more southerly track eliminated the threat of a blizzard in Boston.
“I think most people understand that these things happen,” Mr. Baker said. “You can plan all you want, but you can’t predict the weather around here.”
That was a tough lesson for 6-year-old Hannah Caraballo, a first-grader at Donald McKay K-8 School in East Boston. She was ready for action Tuesday morning, excitedly assembling the building blocks for a snowman: a scarf, a carrot nose and sticks for hands.
He watched and waited hopefully as rain fell. Reluctantly, her parents came up with another plan: “Now we’re going to have to make mud,” said her mother, Sandy Caraballo.
Many winter-weary residents saw the lack of snow as an unexpected victory. At Mike’s Pastry in the North End, it was a normal day, said an employee, Maria Papa. “We had a delivery of ricotta from Rhode Island and the guy said it was pretty bad down there, but it’s nothing here, thank God,” he said.
Boston’s long-suffering car owners also got a rare reprieve: Given the “sudden and drastic changes in the forecast,” the city said in a news release, “no vehicles were towed for parking violations” Monday night. The city’s snow emergency came into force at 4pm on Tuesday.
Eric Anastasi, 34, was pleased with the weather as he walked his dog near Boston City Hall on Tuesday afternoon because dealing with heavier snow “tends to be more difficult” for people in the city.
“It’s crazy how they advertise it,” he said.
