Teddy Kokoros A major snow storm is forecast to drop 15 inches or more on Watertown on Jan. 25 and 26. Above, Main Street on the westside of Watertown during the Jan. 29, 2022 blizzard.
A Snow Emergency has been called in Watertown beginning on Sunday for the storm expected to dump as much as 20 inches of snow over two days. The storm will be preceded by dangerously cold wind chill. See the closings and postponements due to the storm, below.
The Snow Emergency begins at noon on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, according to the announcement from the City of Watertown.
“The Snow Emergency will remain in effect until further notice. On-street parking is strictly prohibited during the snow emergency, and vehicles left on the street are subject to towing and fines of $100,” said the announcement on the City’s Snow and Winter Storm Updates page.
Due to the storm, the Watertown Free Public Library will be closed Sunday, and trash and recycling pickup will not occur on Monday, pushing back collections by a day for all residents during the week of Jan. 26.
Forecast
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Boston area beginning Sunday, Jan. 25 at 7 a.m. through Monday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. Prior to the snow, a Cold Weather Advisory has been issued, with wind chills down to 20 degrees below zero between Friday, Jan. 23 at 10 p.m. and Saturday, Jan. 24 at 10 a.m.
The National Weather Service forecasts between 12 and 17 inches of snow for Massachusetts, Rhode Island and parts of northern Connecticut. Up to 18 inches of snow could fall on Watertown according to the WCVB Channel 5 forecast. The NBC 10 Boston forecast puts Watertown in the 10-16 inches area.
Light snow will begin falling in the Boston area between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m on Sunday, according to a WBZ Channel 4 report. The heaviest part of the storm will be after dark on Sunday. Snow is expected to continue through the day on Monday, followed by cold temperatures on Tuesday.
Parking Alternatives
The Snow Emergency means vehicles cannot park on the streets overnight. For people without off-street parking, there are multiple municipal, school, and other parking lots to leave vehicles.
Off Street Parking Options in Watertown
Type of Parking Lot Name/Location Details (If Applicable) Number of Spaces & Handicap Spaces Municipal Parking Lot Behind CVS at 27 Main Street Use metered spaces only 239 spaces Municipal Parking Lot Behind the Public Library – 123 Main Street 22 spaces & 6 handicap spaces Municipal Parking Lot Behind CVS at 655 Mt. Auburn Street Use metered spaces only. Do not park in spaces designated for CVS, or other private businesses 25 spaces & 2 handicap spaces Visitor Parking Lot Police station – 552 Main Street Visitor’s parking lot only 28 spaces School Parking Lot Hosmer Elementary School – 1 Concord Road Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 22 spaces & 2 handicap spaces School Parking Lot Lowell School – 123 Lowell Ave Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 22 spaces & 2 handicap spaces School Parking Lot Cunniff Elementary School – 246 Warren Street Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 48 spaces & 6 handicap spaces School Parking Lot Watertown Middle School – 68 Waverly Avenue Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 43 spaces & 6 handicap spaces School Parking Lot Watertown Highschool (Temporary Site) – 27 Westminster Avenue Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 122 spaces & 5 handicap spaces Field Parking Lot Victory Field – 40 Orchard Street *Currently unavailable due to construction 44 spaces Park/School Parking Lot O’Connell Park – Lot at the corner of Boylston Street and Mt Auburn Street, where the solar panels are located. Vehicles must be removed from school property no later than 6AM 50 spaces Park Parking Lot Filippello Park – Lot at 191 Grove Street No parking in the spaces along the driveway 55 spaces & 4 handicap spaces Municipal Parking Lot 50 Howard Street 19 spaces and 1 handicap space Municipal Parking Lot Parker Building -124 Watertown Street Vehicles must be removed from property no later than 6AM 89 spaces & 4 handicap spaces Private Lot 101-103 Morse Street – Spaces at the rear of the parking lot Spaces are marked with yellow striping and signs. These spots cannot be used in the case of a Snow Emergency 14 spaces Private Garage 250 Arsenal Place parking garage Spaces are marked with signs on the top level of the parking garage. These spots cannot be used in the case of a Snow Emergency 10 spaces Private Garage Linx Garage – 490 Arsenal Way – Entrance to Parking Garage is located on Nichols Ave Spaces are located on the upper level of the garage and will soon be marked with signs. 7 spaces