Massachusetts, 1999

Winter Weather in Massachusetts, December 20, 1999

December 20, 1999 · NWS BOX · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Light freezing rain developed in the deeper valleys of western and central Massachusetts, as rain fell into a shallow layer of below freezing air at the surface. The resultant light coating of ice created "black ice" on many roadways in the region, causing dozens of car accidents.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
7

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.

Light freezing rain developed in the deeper valleys of western and central Massachusetts, as rain fell into a shallow layer of below freezing air at the surface. The resultant light coating of ice created "black ice" on many roadways in the region, causing dozens of car accidents. Portions of Interstates 91 and 190 were closed for a time due to accidents. Greenfield and Northampton were especially hard hit by the slick driving conditions.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Western Franklin

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Western Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Franklin

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Hampden

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Eastern Hampshire

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Hampshire forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Worcester

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Worcester forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Hampden

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Western Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Western Hampshire

When
December 20, 10:00 AM EST to 6:00 PM EST
Where
Western Hampshire forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, December 1999

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5721295, 5721406, 5721407, 5721408, 5721409, 5721410, 5721411.