by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, February 27, 2026
For more than 36 hours beginning Sunday evening, Harvard residents hunkered down as a powerful nor’easter swept through town, delivering whipping winds, whiteout conditions, and nearly a foot of snow.
By Monday morning, the storm had buried roads, driveways, and sidewalks, prompting widespread closures. Harvard Public Schools, Town Hall, the Harvard Public Library, and the senior center all closed their doors as conditions deteriorated. Gov. Maura Healey declared a statewide emergency, though no travel ban was issued locally.
Behind the scenes, and on the roads, Harvard’s Department of Public Works had already mobilized.
DPW Director Eric Ryder and his crew began plowing Sunday night and worked in rotating shifts through low visibility and steady snowfall. “In conditions like this, you really have to pay extra attention. I want to err on the side of caution,” Ryder said in a phone interview with the Press. “I’ve been giving the staff breaks, especially during low visibility times. Once it cleared up, we went back out to make it possible for individuals who have to get out and get to work.”
Keeping traffic to a minimum was key to that effort. “For the most part, people are staying off [the roads], but you have a few stray cars,” Ryder said. “I wish people would stay home so we could work more efficiently.”
Despite wind gusts reaching 43 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service, Harvard avoided power outages. National Grid reported no service interruptions Monday evening, a welcome outcome given the storm’s intensity.
By 8 p.m. Monday, primary roads had been plowed and treated with salt, though drifting snow remained a concern, particularly along open stretches such as Still River Road and Ayer Road.
As plows continued to widen travel lanes, residents began digging out at home. On the local social media site, Nextdoor, neighbors compared snowfall totals, with reports ranging from 8 inches in some areas to nearly a foot in others.
By Monday evening, town officials announced municipal buildings and the public library would reopen Tuesday. Schools operated on a two-hour delay to allow additional time for clearing overnight drifts. The senior center, however, remained closed Tuesday.
But for Ryder and his crew the work was far from finished.
Approaching the 24-hour mark on duty, Ryder paused to praise his team. “I want to commend the staff. 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 was holding up after little sleep, Ryder laughed, “It builds character.”
Cleanup efforts will continue throughout the week, particularly at intersections where towering snowbanks are limiting sight lines.
“It’s going to take us the rest of the week to take care of snowbanks at all the intersections,” Ryder said. “Right now, we’re pushing everything back, cleaning up corners, and getting the roads as wide as we can. One night this week we’ll go back out with the loaders to open everything up even more and widen the roads.”
While the storm has passed, its impact — and the work required to fully recover — will linger for days to come.
John Osborn contributed to this story.