Grocery stores across Massachusetts experienced a surge of customers Friday as residents prepared for a winter storm expected to dump up to two feet of snow on the region over the weekend. The scene at Market Basket in Waltham reflected conditions throughout the state, with all 26 checkout kiosks in use and lines extending down store aisles.
City and state officials held a press conference Friday urging residents to gather essential supplies before the storm arrives. Shoppers filled carts with snow gear, food staples, eggs, milk and other necessities as forecasters warned about the severity of the approaching weather system.
Parking problems plague shopping trips
The biggest frustration for shoppers was not the crowded aisles or long checkout lines but the parking situations at stores. Finding spaces proved difficult as residents made last minute supply runs before conditions deteriorated. The parking challenges added stress to already hectic shopping trips as people tried to prepare their households.
Customers navigating the crowded stores understood the urgency. Weather forecasts called for significant snowfall beginning Sunday, giving residents limited time to stock up on items needed to ride out the storm safely at home.
Massive storm threatens millions nationwide
The weather system threatening Massachusetts is part of a much larger storm expected to affect 230 million Americans across multiple regions. Heavy snow is forecast from the Southern Rockies through the Mid-Atlantic and into the Northeast, creating what meteorologists describe as extremely dangerous conditions…