STORM CENTER: Recycling Collection Continues on Saturday

Updated Friday at 5:06 p.m.: If your recycling wasn't collected Friday as scheduled, leave it out on Saturday. Recycling collection wasn't finished on Friday, and will finish on Saturday, according to Northborough's website. Residents with questions should call hauler Republic Services at 508-832-9001.

Updated Friday at 9:22 a.m.: Unofficial snowfall reports to the National Weather Service: 12.5 for Shrewsbury. 5.5 for Westborough.

Thursday notes:

Updated Thursday at 5:22 p.m.:  The National Weather Service has extended its blizzard warning to most of coastal New England, including the north and south shores of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The warning is in effect until 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3.

Updated Thursday at 4:55 p.m.: The Northborough and Southborough public schools have cancelled Friday's classes, according to the district's website.

Updated Thursday at 4:02 p.m.: The Northborough Town Hall Offices will open at 8:30 a.m. Friday, rather than at 7 a.m., "to allow DPW more time to clear the roadways and parking lot prior to opening," according to a town news e-mail alert.

Updated Thursday at 3:02 p.m.: All trial courthouses statewide, including Westborough District Court, will close at 3 p.m. Thursday, and open Friday at noon, state court officials say.

All three Algonquin Regional High School varsity sporting events scheduled for Thursday --swimming vs. Shrewsbury, wrestling vs. Nashoba, and girls ice hockey at Westford Academy -- have been postponed, according to the Midland-Wachusett League website. New dates have not been announced.

Updated Thursday at 12:55 p.m.: Firefighters are responding to a reported chimney fire at 144 Rice Ave., according to the Northborough Police Department's Facebook page.

Police are responding to a reported two-car accident near 40 Maple St.

Updated Thursday at 11:51 a.m.: Studio Joy has cancelled its Thursday night class, according to its Facebook page.

T. Rose Karate Dojo is closed Thursday, according to its Facebook page.

Updated Thursday at 10:26 a.m.: The Yama Zakura is closed Thursday, according to its Facebook page.

Northborough police and firefighters responded to a rollover crash near 138 Bartlett St. around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, according to the police department's Twitter account.

Original story, Thursday at 10:11 a.m.: Get your shovels ready, Northborough. You're going to need them.

The first storm of 2014 is underway as the initial flakes began falling after midnight on Thursday. During the day on Thursday there will be some accumulation, though much of the snow will come Thursday night into Friday before the storm ends by Friday afternoon.

Below is what you need to know about this week's significant winter storm. We will be updating this storm center article throughout the storm, so be sure to check back throughout.

Current Forecasts

How much snow is Northborough expected to get Thursday and Friday? Here are the projections as of Thursday at 9:52 a.m.

• National Weather Service: 8-10 inches
• Channel 4, WBZ: 8-10 inches
• Channel 5, WCVB: 9-15 inches
• Channel 7, WHDH: 8-10 inches
• Channel 25, FOX: 8-12 inches

School Closed

In case you missed it, the Northborough and Southborough public schools are closed Thursday. Students won't return from winter break until Friday.

Northborough emergency contacts

• In an emergency, dial 911
• Police Department: 508-393-1515; The PD's Facebook and Twitter accounts will have the latest information.
• Fire Department:508-393-1537
• DPW: 508-393-5030
• National Grid power outages: 800-465-1212, Grid map and outages
• National Grid gas emergencies: 800-233-5325
• Comcast: 1-800-COMCAST (1-800-266-2278)
• Verizon: 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966)
• RCN: 1-866-TECH-RCN (1-866-832-4726)