Residents are also urged to take special care in parking as close to the curb as possible, despite the snow. Residents, landlords and business owners are also reminded that they are required by city regulations to shovel their sidewalks within two hours of the end of the snowfall, but that they may not shovel snow into the street.

Late this morning, federal and state emergency management officials acknowledged an abrupt escalation of today's snow accumulation forecasts by issuing winter storm alerts for the Boston metro area. As late as 10 a.m. on Sunday, most forecasts predicted snow accumulations in Somerville of between 1-3 and 2-4 inches. The same forecasts predicted that the snow would fall steadily but slowly all day long. On the basis of these forecasts, city officials decided not to declare a snow emergency, but begin systematic plowing and salting operations early on Sunday morning.

By the time the National Weather Service and other forecasters had revised their snow accumulation predictions sharply upwards to between 8 and 10 inches, officials concluded that declaring a snow emergency (which includes a four-hour window for residents to move their vehicles) would not allow the city to begin tagging and towing vehicles after the snowstorm had begun to wind down.

With these factors in mind, city officials have concluded that, unless forecasts are abruptly revised again this afternoon, the declaration of a snow emergency will not significantly improve the city's ongoing snow management operations.

(The above from the City of Somerville website)