Snow blankets region, breaks records, in biggest storm in years
By John R. Ellement, Jeremy C. Fox and Matthew Berg Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent,Updated December 17, 2020, 10:32 p.m.
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A man cleared snow from a sidewalk in Charlestown.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff
New England was hit Thursday with its biggest snowstorm in years, bringing freezing temperatures and gusty winds, breaking snowfall records in Boston and Providence, forcing the cancellation of some COVID-19 testing, and keeping thousands of children home for remote schooling.
In a region wracked by the coronavirus pandemic, officials and residents found themselves engaged in a familiar New England ritual: braving the elements and clearing the snow. Boston City Hall was closed, nonessential state employees did not have to report for work, and state courts shuttered their doors.