Heavy Snow and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, February 16 to 17, 1997

Name: Heavy Snow and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, February 16 to 17, 1997
Start: 1997-02-16T21:00
End: 1997-02-17T12:00
Location: Massachusetts

February 16 to 17, 1997 · NWS BOX · 13 events in 7 counties and zones

A "clipper-like" low pressure system moved rapidly eastward from south of the Great Lakes, passing south of Long Island and Cape Cod. It spread a band of moderate snow across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 13

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

A "clipper-like" low pressure system moved rapidly eastward from south of the Great Lakes, passing south of Long Island and Cape Cod. It spread a band of moderate snow across the area. Snowfalls of 6 to 7 inches fell across Cape Cod and the Islands. The maximum snowfall reported was 7.5 inches at both Orleans and Harwich. Nearby Chatham had 6 inches and Carver, in southern Plymouth County, reported 6.3 inches. In addition, strong northeast and north winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph caused blowing and drifting snow. North of Boston, Manchester-by-the-Sea on Cape Ann had 6 inches. There were no particular problems reported as a result of this storm.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 heavy snow, 6 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Essex

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Barnstable

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Dukes

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Dukes forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Nantucket

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Nantucket forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Bristol

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Plymouth

When: February 16, 9:00 PM EST to February 17, 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dukes

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Dukes forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Nantucket

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Nantucket forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Bristol

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: February 17, 4:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, February 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5591990, 5591991, 5591992, 5591993, 5591994, 5591995, 5592121, 5592122, 5592123, 5592124, 5592125, 5592126, 5592127.