Haverhill Public Schools will remain closed Friday, Jan 30, Haverhill School Superintendent James F. Scully announced at 9:30 p.m., Thursday.
WHAV meteorologist Gary Best says there is a chance of snow showers after midnight, low temperatures in the 20s and “could be a dusting by morning.” Periods of snow during the day Friday could deliver one to three inches, he said. Wave Weather is heard every 30 minutes over WHAV.
“Our schools are ready and the conditions around the city are good given the enormity of this weeks storm. However, the weather advisory I have just received puts Haverhill right at the edge of a snow storm that could pose a problem during the morning commute. Given that concern and the fact that many parents need to make arrangements, once again rather than making the decision at 4 a.m., when I usually do, I will stay on the side of caution and close the schools tomorrow–Friday,” Scully said.
Elsewhere in the Merrimack Valley, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Methuen Public Schools also cancelled Friday classes.
Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini is asking city residents for their help to clear sidewalks to help protect children who may be returning to school by Monday.
“It is the legal obligation of residents and businesses to clear the sidewalks in front of their residences and businesses. If your health permits it, please do what you can to clear the sidewalk especially if children walk there,” Fiorentini said in an online post. “We do what we can, and do more sidewalks today than we have ever done with our new sidewalk plows, but we can never do more than a small fraction of the city.”