Published in the November 16, 2018 edition.

WAKEFIELD — A much-too-early winter nor’easter blew into our region last night, bringing a heavy, wind-whipped snow, causing significant problems all over the area and delaying the opening of school before turning to rain this morning.

DPW Director Richard Stinson reported the town received about 5 1/2 inches of snow, much more than the 1 inch initially forecast. A greatly depleted snow removal crew hit Wakefield roads 9:30 p.m. Usually the DPW can count on about 45 pieces of private equipment to help clear streets during a typical snowstorm. For the first winter storm of 2018-19, it had seven private pieces at its disposal.

“This is way too early,” Stinson said. “It could have come a couple of weeks from now.”

With contractors still doing their seasonal work, most did not have their vehicles equipped for plowing.

“(The first storm of the year) is always a good wake-up call for everyone that winter’s hear. Our contractors can now switch gears” and get ready for the next season.

“We were short in all kinds of places,” Stinson continued, but added that cleanup was completed this morning with the clearing of school properties.

Local police began fielding weather-related calls last night around 8:45 when drivers were having difficulty negotiating the curve near the Salem and Vernon streets intersection. Police notified the DPW that the roadway was snow-covered and slick.

At about 10:10 p.m. a vehicle got stuck on Forest Street in Greenwood, unable to get up the steep hill. That vehicle received a push to get going again.

A motor vehicle was damaged, possibly by a snow plow along a stretch of Salem Street around 10:15 p.m., police were told.

A disabled motor vehicle required a tow from the intersection of Water Street and Rosemary Avenue around 10:30 p.m.

Police received many calls regarding the traffic lights being out at Main Street and North Avenue around 10:35 p.m.

A man who reportedly was suffering in the cold along  stretch of Main Street around 10:45 p.m. was taken to MelroseWakefield Hospital.

This morning, an electric transformer blew in the Montrose Avenue-MacKenzie Lane area just after midnight. The Municipal Gas and Light Department was contacted.

A plow operator clearing a private lot on Audubon Road around 1 a.m. reportedly struck several parked vehicles.

An unoccupied motor vehicle in the middle of the road at the Charles Street and Woodbury Road intersection was towed for impeding snow removal around 1:45 a.m.