City of Worcester, MA

WORCESTER, Mass. – Due to a forecasted winter weather event consisting of subzero cold temperatures with windchills as low as -20℉ Friday night through Monday, January 26, 2026 and heavy snowfall amounts of 18” to 25” coupled with potential strong winds that may cause blizzard-like conditions with near-zero visibility, the City of Worcester is declaring a Winter Weather Emergency effective 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.

As part of the Winter Weather Emergency, residents are asked to avoid city streets as of 6 p.m., January 25, 2026.

Due to expected frigid temperatures, the municipality is opening an emergency winter overflow shelter/warming center at Worcester Technical High School Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at 5 p.m. The overflow shelter/warming center will be open until 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. 

A Declared Winter Parking Ban will go into effect at 1 a.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026. All municipal parking garages will be free of charge to any vehicle that enters after 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, until the Declared Winter Parking Ban is lifted. In the case of parking for a special event, event rates apply.

All updates will be shared via social media and worcesterma.gov as it becomes available while ALERTWorcester remains down.

Residents are asked to use one of the municipal garages listed below:

Major Taylor Garage – 30 Major Taylor Blvd.
Federal Plaza Garage – 570 Main St.
Pearl & Elm Garage – 20 Pearl St.
Worcester Common Garage – 3 Eaton Place
Union Station Garage – 225 Franklin St.

“Residents’ safety is my top priority,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. “We ask that people practice patience as DPW crews work to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles. Please remain off the streets unless travel is an emergency. City crews will be working tirelessly overnight and through Monday to ensure the safety of all.”

During the Declared Winter Parking Ban, parking is prohibited on either side of main arteries, emergency and bus routes, and streets in the downtown area critical to the flow of traffic. On all other streets, parking is only permitted on the odd numbered side of the street, unless otherwise posted. Residents can search their streets online at worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/winter-parking.

Towing and ticketing may be enforced to keep streets clear. For questions, residents should contact Worcester 311 by dialing 3-1-1, emailing 311@worcesterma.gov, or visiting worcesterma.gov/311. Residents can submit requests through the 311 app and email 24/7. Residents looking to locate a vehicle that has been towed are advised to contact Worcester 311.

For more details about Worcester’s Winter Parking Bans and affected streets, please visit worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/winter-parking. 

Residents are reminded that they have up to 10 hours from the end of the winter storm to clear the sidewalks abutting their property of any snow and ice. Residents who are able are also asked to clear snow around fire hydrants and catch basins in their neighborhoods. Snow should not be put in the street.

For additional details about City snow removal policies and enforcement, as well as resources for requesting assistance, filing a complaint, and winter sand locations, please visit worcesterma.gov/streets/winter-weather/snow-removal. For winter weather safety/preparation tips, visit ready.gov/winter-weather.

Trash and recycling collection will be delayed on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, resulting in a one-day delay for the remainder of the week. Worcester City Hall will also be closed on Monday.

City officials urge all residents to take precautions to stay safe during the extreme cold and recommend the following tips:

• Avoid outdoor exposure for extended periods and cover exposed skin. Dress in layers and stay dry.
• Watch for frostbite, which can develop in under a minute
• Heat your home safely. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for heating your house with a space heater. Keep three feet of space around the space heater and use a dedicated outlet.
• Open cabinet doors that enclose any indoor pipes to allow warm air to circulate and prevent freezing. Additional tips to prevent frozen pipes can be found at https://www.worcesterma.gov/water-sewer.
• Keep pets indoors and check paws for signs of injury/damage
• Dry your clothes at a lower temperature when drying heavy loads to guard against accidental fires.
• Check on neighbors and elders often
• Keep an emergency supply kit in your car

More information, including the Worcester no-heat/frozen pipe hotline, is available by contacting Worcester 311, (dial 3-1-1, email 311@worcesterma.gov, or submit an online request at https://www.worcesterma.gov/311.)

More cold weather safety/preparation tips are available at https://cdc.gov/winter-weather/about/index.html. 

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