The Big Dig

Though additional snow was expected to continue Monday, the storm that dumped around a foot of snow on the Lower Cape has spent most of its energy, leaving locals to slowly dig their way out.

Many motorists appeared to heed the call to stay off the road, and few traffic accidents were reported during the day Sunday. Plows kept main roads largely passable, despite deep snow drifts in some locations. Crews will begin focusing on secondary roads and side streets today.

The storm caused virtually no power outages on Cape Cod, and only about 3,280 customers elsewhere in the state were without power. While Eversource reported no outages on the Lower Cape, there were reports of fewer than 150 customers in Chatham without power at a time. Report power outages to Eversource by calling 800-592-2000 or texting "OUT" to 23129.

According to the National Weather Service, as of 10 p.m. Sunday, Brewster had tallied 12 inches of snow and Chatham had 10 inches. The Harwich Fire Department reported 12 to 14 inches around the town. Similar amounts were reported on the Upper Cape, where slippery conditions during the storm prevented some vehicles from climbing the Bourne and Sagamore bridges for a time.

The snow began to mix with sleet Sunday evening, though a changeover to all light snow is expected Monday.

"Remember, the mixing has made the snow heavy, so use caution while clearing your driveways and walkways. Also blocked vent pipes can lead to carbon monoxide problems," reads a Harwich Fire Department social media post. "Cleanup will continue throughout the day, and if you don't need to be out, please stay home and let the DPW get the roads clear.  The easier it is for them to work, the faster the town can return to normal."

Shoveling heavy snow can put people at risk for a heart attack -- at a time when medical help may be slower to arrive. The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment created a video to discuss shoveling safety.

The Brewster Fire Department reminds people to shovel out fire hydrants near their homes.  "In an emergency, seconds count, and buried hydrants can delay firefighters when time matters most," they wrote. Snow should be cleared to a distance of three feet around the hydrant, making sure it is visible and accessible from the street.

Bitter temperatures were expected to return to the area, with overnight lows Monday and Tuesday around 13 degrees, and daytime high temperatures only in the mid-twenties.

Send any weather-related cancellations to us at stormcenter@capecodchronicle.com, and if you can take them safely, send us your snow photos, too.

This story was updated on Monday, 1/26, at 7:45 a.m.