Unitil Corporation, a provider of electricity and natural gas to customers in New England, is preparing for a significant winter storm expected to begin Sunday night and intensify throughout the day Monday, bringing whiteout conditions, heavy snowfall, and strong wind gusts across its service territories.
According to the most recent forecast, the heaviest snowfall is expected in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where up to 18 inches of snow is anticipated. Whiteout conditions, along with wind gusts of 40 to 45 miles per hour, may lead to blowing and drifting snow and hazardous travel throughout the day on Monday.
Along the New Hampshire seacoast, approximately 12 inches of snow is expected combined with wind gusts of 40 to 45 miles per hour. In the greater Concord, New Hampshire area, six to eight inches of snow is expected with wind gusts of 35 to 40 miles per hour.
The snow is expected to be normal to dry consistency. While this type of snow can contribute to blowing and drifting, it is less likely to cling to trees and power lines, which may help reduce the risk of widespread snow-related damage and outages.
Unitil is positioning crews in advance of the storm and will open its Regional Emergency Operations Centers Monday morning in order to best coordinate response efforts.
“We’re taking proactive steps to make sure our crews and resources are in place ahead of this storm,” said Amanda Vicinanzo, Unitil’s External Affairs Manager. “For everyone’s safety and to allow our crews to work efficiently, we strongly encourage customers to avoid unnecessary travel on Monday during the height of the storm.”
We recommend our customers take the following steps ahead of the storm:
- Keep flashlights and fresh batteries on hand
- Charge mobile devices and have portable chargers ready
- Stock bottled water, non-perishable foods, and a manual can opener
- Ensure electric vehicles are fully charged
- Have a first aid kit available.
Heavy snow and icicles can have an impact on home meters, especially natural gas meters and vents. As snow accumulates, Unitil advises customers to take the following steps:
- Remove snow and ice from a meter or outdoor appliance vent carefully with a broom. Do not use a shovel as it can damage the meter.
- Avoid shoveling or plowing snow up against or covering the meter or pipe.
- Remove icicles from overhead eaves and gutters to ensure dripping water does not freeze the meter or vent pipe. Contact a qualified roofing vendor if you cannot reach icicles yourself.
- Do not kick your gas meter in an attempt to break ice off, as this too can cause damage.
- Keeping vents and meters clear will allow for proper ventilation and can prevent carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
Unitil will communicate throughout the event through Public Service Announcements, our website, customer call center, and the media. We also encourage customers to follow our storm updates via Facebook and X. We will be providing real-time outage information online at unitil.com/map.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MEDIA:
Unitil asks that when reporting outage information, outlets time stamp the information. Outage numbers change hourly and we wish to make sure the information customers receive is consistent and understandable. Re-posting of old information without referencing a time can create confusion.
Customers experiencing outages should call 1-888-301-7700 or report online at unitil.com/report-outage.
