People are making their way to Massachusetts to check out city vehicles that've been bizarrely buried under a mountain of snow
Published on Apr 21, 2026 at 7:51 AM (UTC+4)
by Callum Tokody
Last updated on Apr 21, 2026 at 7:51 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Callum Tokody
A massive snow pile in Somerville is currently surrendering a fleet of crushed city vehicles to the spring sun.
This frozen mountain on Washington Street serves as a graveyard for local government transport following a particularly aggressive winter season.
The city used these non-functioning cars as a base for snow dumping to ensure emergency routes remained clear for residents.
Recent melt reveals the surprising physical toll these scrapped machines were forced to carry during their months underground.
Crushing city vehicles under the snow pile
Official records confirm the burial of these city vehicles was a deliberate decision by local administrators.
Grace Munns, representing the office of Mayor Jake Wilson, provided clarity regarding the logistics of the event.
The cars were already non-operable and sitting in the lot before the first snow pile formed during the February blizzards.
These city vehicles were waiting for transport to a local scrapyard when the record-breaking storms hit the region.
The city prioritized active road safety over the relocation of junk cars during the peak of the winter emergency.

Workers built a giant snow pile on the city-owned lot to keep residential streets clear for essential travel.
This specific snow pile eventually grew large enough to cover the entire fleet of discarded machines.
Observers frequently stop to view the sight of a city van emerging from the side of the mound.
Local residents recently documented the scene and shared several photos on social media.
A viral image shows a Ford Escape partially crushed by the immense weight of the snow pile.
The Department of Public Works logo remains visible on the door of the damaged vehicle.

Many people find the image of a city vehicle flattened by a snow pile to be a compelling urban curiosity.
The lot is located near a busy transit station, which provides a steady stream of daily viewers.
Automotive expert Nick Perry notes that extreme weather often has unexpected effects on vehicle structural integrity.
“Snow can pile up and weigh on a car in ways most people don’t realize,” Perry explains.
He points out that it is almost like having tonnes of ice sitting on a car roof for months at a time.
“The weight of the snowpack becomes incredibly dense,” Perry says.
This constant weight can buckle pillars and flatten suspensions that were never designed for such loads.

Experts expect the massive snow pile to take several weeks to disappear completely.
Latent heat keeps the core of a snow pile frozen even when air temperatures rise significantly.
This means the city vehicles will remain visible in their frozen state for the immediate future.
Workers are currently using heavy machinery to pull the chassis out of the slush.
They intend to clear the area as the snow pile recedes to prepare the ground for upcoming projects.
New life for the Somerville grave
The city is currently reviewing redevelopment plans for the lot where the snow pile sits in Somerville.
This four-acre property is a prime location for new construction within the urban center.
Officials intend to transform the area into a modern space for the community.
The presence of the snow pile is a temporary logistical obstacle for these municipal goals.
Public feedback will help determine the final use of the lot once the city vehicles are removed.
Nearby developments like the Green Line Extension make this land in Somerville highly valuable for long-term investment.
The story of the snow pile has brought unexpected attention to this previously vacant lot.

Potential developers are aware that the community is following the progress of the site as the ice melts.
The city expects to release official proposals for the redevelopment very soon.
This transition marks the end of the lot serving as a storage point for a giant snow pile.
The buried city vehicles are a visible reminder of the challenges posed by a harsh winter.
Most residents view the choice as a practical solution to a difficult infrastructure problem.
The city maintained its fleet of working cars and used the junked units to manage the overflow.
This situation shows how urban centers manage extreme weather through direct resource allocation.
The legendary snow pile will eventually vanish and leave only digital records and photos behind for the residents of Somerville.