UPDATE - 02/09/17 @ 4:49 p.m.:
Boston officially reached blizzard criteria at 4 p.m. on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Blizzard criteria includes winds greater than 35 miles per hour with falling and/or blowing snow, frequently reducing visibility to less than ¼ mile for three hours or more.
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UPDATE - 02/09/17 @ 1:56 p.m.:
The existing Blizzard warning has been expanded to include Boston and surrounding suburbs.
Mayor Marty Walsh has announced that Boston Public Schools will be closed on Friday. The snow emergency parking ban will remain in effect into Friday. Residents are being warned to not park on major roads and arteries. The MBTA Commuter Rail is set for regular service on Friday, according to Keolis.
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UPDATE - 02/09/17 @ 7:48 a.m.:
Things are expected to deteriorate quickly in MA as the snow is beginning to fall.
Thundersnow, as well as inch-per-hour snow, is already being reported in CT.
The ramp up will be very quick - 2”-4” of accumulation per hour is a possibility. We could get 10”-12” of total accumulation between noon and 5 p.m. in areas as temperatures continue to fall. Overall, 10”-15” of snowfall for the area are possible, with 16”-18” in pockets along the North Shore and the northern end of 128.
Blizzard warning remains for South Shore down to the Cape and Islands, as well as winter storm warnings for much of the rest of New England.
Winds will peak around 3 p.m., possibly reaching speeds as high as 60 miles per hour, making power outages a strong possibility.
A snow emergency is in effect for Boston. State offices in Massachusetts are closed Thursday for non-emergency, executive branch state employees. Courts are also closed. The MBTA is operating on a regular schedule.
"People should stay off the roads today and not travel unless absolutely necessary," MA Gov. Charlie Baker said on Twitter. "If you must travel, do so safely & plan ahead."
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UPDATE - 02/08/17 @ 4:18 p.m.:
Boston has declared a snow emergency that will be in effect starting Thursday at 10 a.m.
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UPDATE - 02/08/17 @ 3:38 p.m.:
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Thursday due to the expected heavy snow.
Click here for additional school closings.
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UPDATE - 02/08/17 @ 2:35 p.m.:
The National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for Southeast Coastal MA including Cape Cod, the Islands and Block Island, RI from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. 40-50 mile per hour winds and ¼ mile visibility are possible.
There is a winter storm warning for the rest of MA from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
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A significant storm is expected to take shape along the eastern seaboard and pass south of New England, producing snow across the area. Heaviest snow amounts will be to the south.
Snow is expected to begin falling between 5 and 8 a.m. into Thursday night. Due to falling temperatures, snow is expected to stick to the roads quickly, making travel difficult. Please exercise extreme caution.
Blizzard conditions are possible on Cape Cod, as wind gusts could reach as high as 45 miles per hour.
Nearly a foot of snow accumulation is expected from the South Shore through much of Rhode Island. Points north of the Mass Pike to Southern New Hampshire are expected to receive about 6 inches.
Click here for more information from our news partner NBC Boston.