Winter-Weary New England Strains Under Depleted Snow Budgets, Morale

The winter of 2026 has been unusually long and cold, prolonged by Monday's nor'easter, which dropped up to 3 feet of snow on parts of New England. 

Municipalities are facing depleted snow removal budgets, and residents are starting to feel the impacts of a winter that seems never-ending.

Braintree Public Works Director Matt Jacques said the ongoing cleanup from the winter storms is taxing his staff's time and resources.

“We haven't had these kind of storms, or prolonged storms or big storms,” said Jacques in a statement shared with NBC10 Boston.

Dr. Michelle DiBlasi, chief of inpatient psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center, said this time of year can impact people in different ways.

“The fact that people have been more trapped indoors with more snow this season may cause people to be feeling more down, less social, less active,” explained DiBlasi to NBC10 Boston. “If you are really struggling … seek out help, because we know seasonal affective disorder is a real thing and can be very serious.”

Tricia Barry agrees with the seemingly endless series of winter storms. 

“Too long, too cold,” Barry said to NBC10 Boston. “I'm not happy with it.” She has, however, found a way to cope with the winter doldrums. “You know, a nor'easter, I just stay home and drink wine and have cheese and crackers.”