Boston’s tower of filthy snow finally melts away

BOSTON (AP) — The last of Boston’s winter nightmare has finally melted away.

Mayor Martin Walsh announced Tuesday that Boston’s once-massive pile of filthy snow has officially dwindled to nothing. The pile accumulated into a 75-foot tower of snow after a record-breaking winter that dumped more than 110 inches on the city.

The mound made Bostonians shiver into the summer, but not because of the temperature: It was laden more than 80 tons of garbage, transforming it into a repulsive trash heap as the snow melted. Officials say two snowstorms struck after residents put their trash out, and it got swept up by plows.

The persistent pile prompted Walsh to hold a contest for who could guess when it would melt. He’ll announce the winners Wednesday.

With summer in full swing and temperatures flirting with the 90s, the epic winter has seemed like a distant bad dream to many Bostonians. Others had speculated — and not happily — that the messy mound might last until Labor Day.

Gov. Charlie Baker captured the mood Tuesday, tweeting: “Our nightmare is officially over!”