STORM CENTER: First Flakes of 2014 Falling in Needham

Winds will be northeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Visibility will be one quarter to a half mile at times.

A winter storm warning is issued when an average of 6 or more inches of snow is expected in a 12 hour period or for 8 or more inches in a 24 hour period.

Below is what you need to know about this week's significant winter storm. We will be updating this storm center article throughout the storm, so be sure to check back throughout.

Current Forecasts

How much snow is Needham expected to get Thursday and Friday? Here are the projections as of Thursday at 9 a.m.

• National Weather Service: 10-14 inches
• Channel 4, WBZ: 10-14+ inches
• Channel 5, WCVB: 9-15 inches
• Channel 7, WHDH: 8-12 inches
• Channel 25, FOX: 10-14 inches

Closings and Cancellations
Friday, Jan. 3
1:55 a.m.: There will be no classes at Olin College.

Thursday, Jan. 2
9:10 p.m.: Tomorrow night's girls ice hockey game @ Leominster-St. Bernards has been moved to Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fitchburg State Rink.

Tomorrows girls basketball games @ Brookline have been moved to Monday. Junior varsity will play 3:45 p.m., freshmen will play 5 p.m. and varsity will face off 5:15 p.m. 

Tomorrow's boys swimming and diving meet vs. Wellesley has been moved to Saturday at 4 p.m. at Babson.

5:18 p.m.:  Needham Town Hall will be opening at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3.

4:55 p.m.: Needham Line Train 618 (3:50 pm from Needham Heights) is delayed 15 to 20 minutes today due to the snow.

4:52 p.m.: Olin College will be closed Friday.

3:20 p.m.: Needham Public Schools will be closed Friday, Jan. 3.

2:52 p.m.: In consideration of public and staff safety in light of the current coastal storm, the Massachusetts Trial Court will close courthouses statewide today at 3 p.m. on Jan. 2, and will delay opening on Friday, Jan. 3 in all counties until noon. An assessment for Friday afternoon operations will be made in the morning. No first-day jurors are scheduled to report on Friday.  

12:24 p.m. The Finance Committee/School Committee Budget Liaisons meeting scheduled for Friday has been cancelled.

Needham Public Schools are open for Thursday. After-school activities have been cancelled, however. There will be no athletic or adult education programs. Parents of Needham Extended Day Program students are asked to pick up their child(ren) no later than 4 p.m.

Norfolk Agricultural School will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the weather.

Volante Farms is closing early at 5 p.m. today, and delaying opening tomorrow until 11 a.m.

Isis Needham is closing at 6 p.m.

Recycling & Transfer Station: As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, the Recycling & Transfer Station is open. However, due to road conditions residents are encouraged to wait until the storm has passed before bringing materials to the RTS. The RTS may close if conditions continue to deteriorate.

Check back for information on possible early releases or Friday cancellations. 

Helpful Links
Emergency Tips for Handling Extreme Cold
Blizzard Warning for Parts of Massachusetts

Fun Links
Snowfall Totals for Boston, Surrounding Area
Needham Takes To Social Media During Snow Storm
PHOTO GALLERY: First Snow Storm of 2014 in Needham
Did You Send Your Children to School or Keep Them Home?
Share Your Snow Photos on Patch!
How Would You Rate Needham's Plowing?

Needham Emergency Contacts

• In case of an emergency, dial 911
  
• Needham Police Department - 781-455-7570
• Needham Fire Department - 781-455-7580
• National Grid power outages: 800-465-1212
• National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
• NStar: Report a power outage website
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• RCN: 1-866-TECH-RCN (1-866-832-4726) 
• MBTA: 617-222-3200

Be sure to follow Wellesley Patch on Twitter and Facebook throughout the storm as we'll have ongoing updates there as well.

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Have snow related cancelations? Let us know in the comments section.