Nor’easter Information – Newburyport 2-22-26
February 22, 2026February 22, 2026
The City of Newburyport is tracking a strong coastal storm that is anticipated to arrive after midnight on Monday morning, February 23 and is expected to last most of the day. Snow totals are projected at 15-20 inches with winds at 45-55 MPH, which may create blizzard conditions. While tides will not be astronomically high, strong onshore winds will cause instances of minor coastal flooding during high tide cycles. Residents on Plum Island should prepare for temporary loss of utilities and access to the mainland. Residents on the mainland should prepare for loss of power. Trash pickup will be delayed by one day, following a Monday holiday schedule.
Due to the pending storm, The City of Newburyport Department of Public Services (DPS) has declared a Street Parking Ban effective at 6 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026, until further notice. DPS will turn on flashing blue emergency beacons located at major intersections across the city at noon. During a parking ban, parking is prohibited on all public ways. Any vehicle parked on a public way is subject to towing at the owner’s expense. The City’s towing priorities are based on access needs for emergency vehicles (Fire, Police, Ambulance), along with the type and duration of the event. Residents may park (at own risk) in city-controlled municipal lots until the ban has been rescinded. Owners of vehicles parked in the municipal lots must remove their cars within 12 hours after the parking ban is lifted so the DPS crews can properly clear those lots.
Due to the amount of snow, the city has received this season, snow removal will be more challenging for this storm. We are working to obtain approval from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to dump snow in the Merrimac River, but we currently do not have these approvals in place, and space for snow at Cashman Park is reaching capacity. Therefore, residents should expect that snow hauling after this next storm will be minimal and focused on the most critical emergency routes. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to clear the roadways. We also appreciate your assistance in this effort by not plowing or blowing snow into public ways, and by clearing your sidewalks and hydrants in a timely manner.
Thank you,
The City of Newburyport Department of Public Services
