How much snow are we getting?

Also: Toothbrushing is reducing death rates for some patients; Mass. ex-transpo chief was paid for months after stepping down [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  January 5, 2024 ☀️ Today is sunny, with a high of 35. Good Morning Boston, Happy Friday! I know there’s likely only one question on your mind this morning: How much snow are we getting this weekend? Well, it’s New England, so who really knows. Kidding! (Kind of.) The National Weather Service does have a Winter Storm Watch up for the entire state — minus the South Shore, Cape and Islands — and WBUR meteorologist Danielle Noyes has [a new forecast for how the storm is going to move through the region](. Let's dig through it: - Time to bust out the shovels: The heavy snow starts around 8 p.m. Saturday night and continues until Sunday afternoon. It's expected to be the first plowable storm of the season and could dump up to six inches of snow over Greater Boston and up to a foot of snow on other parts of New England. The common denominator across the region is that there will be a lot of moisture in the air. So, some people may see more rain than flurries, others will get heavy snow that’s difficult for shoveling. - OK, but how much snow are we talking? It really depends on where you live. Those more central, and those north or west (like Lawrence and Worcester), will likely see the most snow. For those along the coast, the least. Here are Noyes' snow total predictions as of this morning: - From Route 128 to 495: 4-6 inches - Inside of 128: 2-4 inches - Boston: Likely only 1-2 inches - South Shore: 1-2 inches - Cape Cod: Mainly rain - Safety first: This is not going to be a blockbuster storm, but the roads won’t be great. Noyes says visibility will be reduced to a quarter or half mile during heavier bursts of snow. Stay home if you can and [make sure your car is stocked up with winter safety supplies]( if you can’t. There may also be a chance of power outages in areas with gustier wind and heavy snowfall, so you know the drill: Have the flashlights, candles and headlamps on standby. (You can skip the panic shopping for milk and bread.) - Heads up: Another smaller storm is creeping up right behind this one on Tuesday night. It will likely bring a little more snow to the mountains (skiers rejoice!), and rain or a wintry mix to southern New England. - Speaking of skiers: While local ski areas are excited by the prospect of finally getting some snow this weekend, they’re not too worried about the lack of powder so far. WBUR's Zeninjor Enwemeka spoke with a couple local resorts, who said they’ve been able to stay open by making their own snow. - "We're going to be making snow all week to build up that base and then once we get a little fluffy stuff on top, it should be really nice," Chris Stimpson, public relations manager for Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, told Zeninjor. He added that 80% of Wachusett Mountain is already open for skiers and riders. - At Blue Hills Ski Area, Molly Ross, the general manager, told Zeninjor they’ve been making snow all week and will be open this weekend. - Making history: Ruthzee Louijeune, Boston City Council's first Haitian-American president, was sworn in this week. Louijeune, a lawyer by trade and second-term Boston City councilor, chatted with Radio Boston yesterday to outline her new priorities. - Let's be civil, please: In recent years, the City Council has experienced [tension]( between the council's more moderate, historically Irish Catholic faction and its growing ranks of progressive, mostly non-white councilors. Louijeune wants to push the council to "fight with a smile." "People try to talk about 'old Boston' and 'new Boston,' and I think that language is intentionally divisive," Louijeune said. "That doesn't mean that we're not going to disagree, because we will. We are a diverse body with diverse opinions... But can we do so with collegiality, and with goodwill, and always centering the needs of the residents of the city of Boston?" - [Listen to the full segment]( to learn more about Louijeune's top priorities, and hear her thoughts on the current migrant crisis and why she as a Harvard alum is "completely saddened" over the departure of former president Claudine Gay. P.S.— What is the name of the country’s first large-scale offshore wind project which is generating power off of Massachusetts? [Take our Boston News Quiz]( and test your knowledge of this week's stories. Meagan McGinnes Assistant Managing Editor, Newsletters  Support the news  The Rundown [State's ex-transportation chief was paid for months after stepping down, records show]( Fiandaca was paid the remainder of her $181,722 salary through Dec. 31, to offer "assistance, advice and counsel," according to a copy of her severance agreement obtained by WBUR. [Read more.]( [State's ex-transportation chief was paid for months after stepping down, records show]( Fiandaca was paid the remainder of her $181,722 salary through Dec. 31, to offer "assistance, advice and counsel," according to a copy of her severance agreement obtained by WBUR. [Read more.]( [In aftermath of Gay's resignation, Harvard Corp.'s leader has no intention to step down]( In a short statement, a Harvard spokesperson said Harvard Corporation senior fellow Penny Pritzker "is not resigning." [Read more.]( [In aftermath of Gay's resignation, Harvard Corp.'s leader has no intention to step down]( In a short statement, a Harvard spokesperson said Harvard Corporation senior fellow Penny Pritzker "is not resigning." [Read more.]( [New state report outlines how to manage Mass. forests to store more carbon]( The report recommends that the state increase the amount of protected forest land and suggests more climate-friendly guidelines for timber harvesting. The state also dedicated funds to conserve and acquire forest land. [Read more.]( [New state report outlines how to manage Mass. forests to store more carbon]( The report recommends that the state increase the amount of protected forest land and suggests more climate-friendly guidelines for timber harvesting. The state also dedicated funds to conserve and acquire forest land. [Read more.]( [A small but powerful exhibit showcases Faith Ringgold's work in Worcester]( For the first time in nearly 15 years, a solo show of the artist's work comes to New England. [Read more.]( [A small but powerful exhibit showcases Faith Ringgold's work in Worcester]( For the first time in nearly 15 years, a solo show of the artist's work comes to New England. [Read more.]( [Wheelchair repairs can take months; Mass. Senate passes bill aimed at fixing that]( The bill requires wheelchairs have at least a two-year warranty — up from one year required under the current law. The bill also sets time limits on how quickly a manufacturer has to assess the defective chair and provide a loaner chair. Plus, the bill prohibits prior authorizations from a doctor for repairs under $1,000. [Read more.]( [Wheelchair repairs can take months; Mass. Senate passes bill aimed at fixing that]( The bill requires wheelchairs have at least a two-year warranty — up from one year required under the current law. The bill also sets time limits on how quickly a manufacturer has to assess the defective chair and provide a loaner chair. Plus, the bill prohibits prior authorizations from a doctor for repairs under $1,000. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - A new study has found there is an extremely affordable way to lower death rates among certain hospital patients: [Toothbrushing](. Data shows it reduces the risk of pneumonia by about a third — and the mortality rate by almost 20% — for patients on a ventilator and in the Intensive Care Unit. - Automaker Ford has issued a recall of more than 112,000 of its F-150 trucks. The company said F-150 models manufactured between 2021-2023 may contain a faulty part that could cause the trucks to roll away while parked. [Click here]( for more specifics and info on what to do if your vehicle is a part of the recall. - "Anselm," a documentary film directed by Wim Wenders, brings the audience into the larger-than-life installations of German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer. "Shot in stunning 6K resolution and 3D, it’s simply jaw-dropping to look at," writes WBUR film critic Sean Burns. [Read his full review here.](  What We're Reading 📚 - NASA Captures Stunning Images of Jupiter’s Moon Io on Closest Flyby in 20 Years ([Smithsonian Magazine]( - Scenes of loss play out across Japan’s western coastline after quake kills 84 ([PBS NewsHour]( - Opinion: The Case for Disqualifying Trump is Strong ([The New York Times](  Tell Me Something Good [A 13-year-old in Oklahoma may have just become the 1st person to ever beat Tetris]( Before last month, no human had ever been known to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris. Artificial intelligence had done so, but then came Willis Gibson, who only needed 39 minutes. [Read more.]( [A 13-year-old in Oklahoma may have just become the 1st person to ever beat Tetris]( Before last month, no human had ever been known to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris. Artificial intelligence had done so, but then came Willis Gibson, who only needed 39 minutes. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common is joined by WBUR's Candice Springer, assistant director of CitySpace and our resident fun events expert, [who's sharing her top picks for happenings around Boston this January.]( Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: When there are [no seats left on the train...]( Hanna Ali helped produce today's newsletter. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 🔎 Explore [WBUR's Field Guide]( stories, events and more. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news    Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2023 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.