SOUTH HADLEY, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Shoppers packed grocery stores Thursday to stock up before this weekend’s arctic blast and snowstorm, with many choosing to get groceries now rather than risk going without.

Big Y in South Hadley saw a busy day Thursday, continuing a trend that has lasted the entire week as residents prepare for frigid temperatures and lots of snow. “I just thought I’d maybe beat the snowstorm coming up this weekend and I have a feeling it’s going to get busier the closer it comes,” said shopper Jim Girard.

Dozens of people filled their carts with groceries including meat, milk, eggs, and even ice melt as Western Massachusetts residents prepared for the one-two punch of cold and snow. Big Y Store Director Joseph Cavanaugh said his location was ready for the increased demand. “We knew that this storm was coming, so we started planning earlier in the week on Tuesday, so we have probably 70 percent of the stuff in the store already,” Cavanaugh explained.

The store also changed some of its operations to handle the rush by adjusting deliveries and staffing levels. “We’ve changed our deliveries around. We’ve changed our labor around, so that we can have the correct amount of people here, so that we can get the people through the registers quickly and they can get what they’re looking for,” Cavanaugh noted.

For some shoppers, despite the storm preparations, the experience felt routine. Ashley Barta said she was picking up “veggies, meats, juice” and noted that “even if it was, like, Thanksgiving weekend, it’d be fine to get through (the store).”

With the Patriots game happening Sunday, some fans used the opportunity to stock up on snacks ahead of time. “I just want to hunker down and have everything I need on hand. I don’t have to sweat it. They even got those Paczkis there, so I might have one or two, you know? Why not?” Girard said.

Big Y plans to continue monitoring conditions and the South Hadley location plans to remain open throughout the weekend.

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