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Whiplash Weather in Store for the Berkshires

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Mother Nature is making sure there's a snowy background for Friday night's tree lightings in North Adams and Pittsfield. The National Weather Service is predicting a few inches and up to 5 inches in the higher elevations, with steady snowfall until 10 p.m. 
 
Motorists should beware of slippery roads and low visibility, especially Friday night.
 
A number of school districts have canceled after-school programs for Friday: Hoosac Valley Regional; Berkshire Arts & Technology Public Charter; Mount Greylock Regional School District; Drury High; and Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (early dismissal, too).
 
But wait, this is the Berkshires so you know the weather will change on the dime — and that will happen at the beginning of next week. 
 
Another storm system forming in the Midwest will be pushing warmer air into the Northeast, according to Accuweather, with temperatures jumping back up into the 40s and 50s. The 2 feet of snow we got will start melting and ... yep, a big slushy mess, icy conditions and possible flooding. 
 
"Within the existing snow on the ground, there is between 1 and 5 inches of water as of Thursday, Dec. 5," says Accuweather's  senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
 
Oh, of course, there's rain in the forecast as well. A couple inches of it. And then — wait for it — a frigid blast on Wednesday will make sure all that slushy stuff turns to icy stuff!
 
One thing's for sure, weather is never dull in the Berkshires. 

Tags: bad weather,   

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MassDOT Warns of Toll-fee Smishing Scam

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was alerted that a text message-based scam, also known as smishing, is fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies from across the country. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads.

Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.

EZDriveMA customers can verify a valid text notification in several ways:

  • EZDriveMA will never request payment by text
  • All links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The FBI says it has received more than 2,000 complaints related to toll smishing scams since early March and recommends individuals who receive fraudulent messages do the following:

1. File a complaint with the  Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; be sure to include:

The phone number from where the text originated.
The website listed within the text

2. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website.

3. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number.

4. Delete any smishing texts received.

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