Massachusetts is continuing to dig out after three massive snowstorms hit the state in the past two weeks.

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A resident of the Dorchester neighbourhood of Boston shovels snow Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images
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Snow almost completely engulfs a car in the Dorchester area of Boston Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images
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A wing mirror protrudes from deep snow in Dorchester, Boston Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images

Roofs collapsed under the weight of snow, schools closed, subways and rail services were shut down, and authorities began dumping snow into the sea and piling it up at huge "snow farms".

Massachusetts officials said they had begun granting some exceptions to environmental laws that prohibit dumping snow into waterways. Snow collected from roadways carrries salt and road contaminants that can alter the water chemistry, but about two feet (60cm) of snow has accumulated across the region, piling up in massive snowbanks.

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Workers dump snow at a "snow farm" on Tide Street in Boston in an attempt to clear the streets Scott Eisen/Getty Images
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Snow piles up at a "snow farm" on Tide Street in Boston. The city has received more than 70 inches of snowfall in the last 30 days Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Rockland Fire Chief Scott Duffey said a large section of roof fell into the showroom Tuesday morning at the Piano Mill. No one was in the building at the time. Owner Rob Norris said the Liberace piano, which has 88,888 rhinestones and has been appraised at $500,000, was not damaged.

The roof collapse was among a number reported across the state. No injuries have been reported in any of them.

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The roof of a building that collapsed due to the weight of the snow is seen in Hingham, Massachussets Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Boston hospitals set up sleeping areas for workers, and police gave doctors and nurses rides to work.

This has been the area's snowiest 30-day period on record. Much of eastern Massachusetts has received more than six feet of snow so far this year.

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A man rests while digging out a car following a winter snow storm in Boston Brian Snyder/Reuters
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A Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority green line subway train travels on snow-covered tracks in Brookline Brian Snyder/Reuters
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A cyclist rides across the Mass Ave bridge in Boston Brian Snyder/Reuters
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Cars remain buried on East 4th Street in Boston Scott Eisen/Getty Images
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Residents dig their cars out of deep snow on East 5th Street in Boston Scott Eisen/Getty Images
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A woman walks her dog past snowbanks and cars buried under snow in the Dorchester neighbourhood of Boston, Massachusetts Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images

Meteorologists predict that more snow is on the way on Thursday and into the Friday morning commute. A much larger storm could dump appreciably higher amounts on Sunday into Monday, but meteorologists said it was still too early to say how much.

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