by John Osborn and Julie Gowel ·
Monday, February 23, 2026
Updated Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at 8 p.m.
As residents continue to dig out from Monday’s nor’easter, town officials announced that Hildreth Elementary School, the Bromfield School and most municipal buildings would reopen Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Linda Dwight informed students and parents Monday evening that classes at Harvard Public Schools would be back in session Tuesday following a two-hour delay. According to Town Administrator Dan Nason and Library Director Mary Wilson, Town Hall and the Harvard Public Library will return to regular hours of operation. The Senior Center, however, will remain closed; no classes, no lunch, according to an afternoon phone message from the Council on Aging.
As of 8 p.m. Monday, National Grid reported there had been no power outages in Harvard despite wind gusts as high as 43 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service, and heavy snowfall that totalled 8 to 12 inches before the storm wound down Monday evening.
The Harvard Department of Public works worked throughout Monday, Feb. 23, to make the roads passable for residents during one of the town's worst snowstorms in years. DPW Director Eric Ryder told the Press in a phone interview that roads will be safe to travel by approximately 8:00 p.m., but residents should beware of snow blowing back into the roadways from high winds.
“I want to caution residents about snowdrifts in certain areas, especially on roads like Still River Road and Ayer Road, and any other areas near open fields,” said Ryder. “We could see drifting in those spots.
Ryder was approaching the 24-hour mark of being on duty. “ I want to commend the staff,” he said. “They did a great job. There’s always room for minor improvements, but overall, considering the magnitude of the storm, the roads are going to be passable for residents.” When asked how he is feeling after no sleep, he responded with a laugh and said, “It builds character.”
“It’s going to take us the rest of the week to take care of snow banks at all the intersections for sight lines,” said Ryder. “We also have additional snow coming Wednesday and Thursday.”
Meanwhile, Massachusetts remains in the state of emergency declared by Gov. Maura Healey yesterday, though unlike southeastern Massachusetts there is no travel ban in effect.
Harvard residents are reminded that there are town bylaws about snow and ice removal, and to pass this information to plowing contractors. Chapter 96, section 96-3, prohibits leaving snow and ice on public ways and impeding the flow of traffic. Chapter 96, section 96-4, prohibits vehicle parking on public ways in a manner that hinders snow and ice removal. Contact the DPW at 978-456-4130 with questions.
The Devens Department of Public Works has issued a parking ban that began Sunday 4 p.m. and will remain in effect until Tuesday, Feb. 24, at noon. Residents may park at the DPW facility next to Antietam Field and the Bob Eisengrein Community Center, 100 Sherman Ave.
This story was updated at 8 p.m. Feb. 23, 2026, to include news of the reopening of schools and municipal buildings and the state of town roads.
.