You Ask...Patch Answers

Will the Town Supply Residents with Sand/Salt for Roads?

This week's You Ask...Patch Answers addresses the town's ability to provide road salt/sand during the winter season.

Does the Town supply residents with the sand/salt mix that is used on roads? Yes. Between storms you may bring a bucket or pail to the Town Yard on Lewis Street and fill it at no cost. Please do not attempt to come during a snowstorm as it is too dangerous for residents to fill anything while the heavy equipment is in operation. This was provided by the town's Snow Removal FAQs.

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You Ask...Patch Answers

How Does Andover Decide What Roads to Plow First During a Storm?

This "You Ask, Patch Answers" addresses how the town prioritizes what to plow first in a snow storm.

What are the town's priorities when snow plowing? The Town's priorities are as follows: This answer was provided by the town of Andover.

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How Do I Dispose of Branches from the Storm?

Here is all the information you need on disposing branches strewn about from the storm.

If you're like everybody else, then you probably have tree branches littered throughout your yard. Here's the latest information on the rules of branch and twig disposal. While the town’s trash collection vendor does not pick up tree limbs or piled branches, they will be pick up bundled branches in accordance with the instructions found on page 2 of the 2012-2013 Recycling/Trash Guide: • 3-4 bundles per week • Bundled with tape or rope • 1” to 6” in diameter • Up to 4’ in length • 50# or less • No Foliage Small twigs under 5” in length may be placed curbside in plastic trash bags. No paper leaf bags will be picked up.  As of this time there is no special curbside pickup scheduled, and there is no drop off site available in town. Branches …

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National Grid Says It Is Ready for Tuesday Night Storm

National Grid faced fierce criticism for its response to Hurricane Irene and an October snowstorm last year but said on Tuesday it is ready for heavy winds and rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

National Grid officials said on Tuesday that they are ready for the expected gusty winds and heavy rain that is forecasted to move into the area on Tuesday night. The utility company has come under fire for previous storm responses, including during a snowstorm last fall.  In July, state Attorney General Martha Coakley proposed fining the company a record $16 million for what she said was an inadequate response to the October storm and also Hurricane Irene last August. The National Weather Sevice has issued a wind advisory for Andover that runs from 4 p.m. on Tuesday through 6 a.m. on Wednesday. “As a result, National Grid crews and support staff have been put on alert and are prepared to respond in the event of service interruptions,” …

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Another Round of Severe Weather Predicted for Thursday, Friday

The National Weather Service says it can't rule out an isolated tornado on Thursday.

Residents in eastern Massachusetts who have plans for outdoor activities tomorrow will want to be wary of the latest forecast by the National Weather Service. There is a possibility of severe thunderstorms both Thursday and Friday, with the best chance of stronger storms in the western part of the state. Some of the stronger storms may be accompanied by heavy rain which could lead to flooding. Residents can also expect to large hail and strong damaging wind, and an isolated tornado can't be ruled out, the NWS says. Highs tomorrow will be in the mid 80s. On Friday, the NWS says the best chance for any strong storms to develop will be in the afternoon and evening south of the Mass Pike.

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Brendan Lewis

12:44 pm on Thursday, July 26, 2012

Thanks for the question Charlene. Andover Police do have an automated phone system called Reverse 911. Visit this link and provide police with your most current contact information: http://www.andoverps.net/police/forms/reverse911.html   more ›

Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect Through 8 p.m. Tuesday

There's a possibility for a strong to severe thunderstorm in Andover through 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Andover through 8 p.m. on Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Taunton issued the watch at 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday. A severe thunderstorm watch means conditions are favorable for the formation of a severe thunderstorm, including heavy rain, strong wind gusts, dangerous lightening and small hail. The watch covers 13 of the state’s 14 counties. In a special weather statement issued 16 minutes after the watch was issued, the weather service said that a “line of strong to possibly severe thunderstorms will move across much of Southern New England this afternoon.” Concern was centered on a line of storms that stretched from the Vermont-Massachusetts border across to Manchester and Portsmouth, N.H. …

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One to Two Inches of Snow Coming to Andover

The National Weather Service said that the Andover area should expect some snow tonight and tomorrow.

Andover should be getting around one to two inches of snow fall today into tomorrow. The National Weather Services is predicting that snow will begin to fall mainly before 4 a.m. tonight. A low temperature of 25 degrees is expected with a 7 mile per hour west wind. Given the recent cold, roads will become snow covered and slippery very quickly and motorists should use caution in the coming day. There is a good chance that snow is likely for Saturday but given a warm air front expected, it could result in a wintery mix. Snow is also possible late Sunday into Sunday night but it is not likely to cause roads to freeze.

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Snow Predicted for Thursday Morning Commute

The National Weather Service says the likelihood has increased for a winter storm, hitting in the early morning hours of Thursday.

That Hazardous Weather Outlook is back for the region, declaring the probability of a two-day storm later this week. The National Weather Service had initially issued an alert for possible wintry weather on Wednesday and Thursday, but then canceled that alert by mid-morning on Tuesday. The notice was back again around 5 p.m., however, once again declaring the possibility of a winter storm hitting in the early morning hours on Thursday. "There is a moderate to high probability that a winter weather advisory for accumulating snow and/or ice will be needed for a portion of the interior late Wednesday night into Thursday," the NWS says. "There is still some uncertainty but confidence is increasing in a period of wintry precipitation." As of a …

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You Ask...Patch Answers

How Can I Dispose of Storm Debris?

You Ask...Patch Answers focuses on disposing of your branches and tree limbs.

How can I dispose of storm debris? There are currently two ways to dispose of debris from the Oct. 29 storm. The town has a regular policy that allows residents to dispose of twigs and small branches in bundles in regular trash pickup. In addition, the town is currently allowing residents to drop off larger branches and tree limbs at the two locations in town due to the Oct. 29 snowstorm.  Town officials say that the town is cleaning up all town-owned land and debris from all town-owned trees, but said they would not be cleaning up private properties. The town cleanup does include sidewalks and roadways. The town hopes to finish cleanup by Thanksgiving.  This is the policy in regards to twigs and small branches: BUNDLED BRANCHES: Twigs/…

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National Grid: No Restoration Time Estimate Yet

The company says this was the worst October storm on record.

In the aftermath of the October snowstorm, thousands in North Andover are still without power, and National Grid crews are out in full force trying to restore it. But there is still no time estimate of when power will be restored. "This storm has impacted over 400,000 of our Massachusetts customers," said Kathy Lyford, vice president of operations for president of National Grid in New England. "This was a record-breaking October storm, by far the worst October storm we’ve had in New England." There are thousands of tree limbs down across the state, she added, causing an unusually large number of power outages. "We serve 172 communities, from an electric perspective, from the Merrimack Valley to Rhode Island and out to western New York," …

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