High Wind and Winter Weather in Massachusetts, January 3, 1999

A developing low pressure system moving from the mid Atlantic states into southern New Englandbrought strong southeast winds and more than 2 inches of rain to eastern and southeastern Massachusetts. Freezing rain occurred in the central and western part of the state, especially in the valleys.Strong winds occurred across all of southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands. A peak wind gust to 71 mph was reported at Chatham, and a gust to 65 mph was reported at Onset, where two trees were blown down. In Fairhaven, a gust to 56 mph downed a telephone pole which resulted in a power outage, Other strong wind gusts included 56 mph at West Island, 55 mph at Nantucket and Pocasset, 48 mph at Martha's Vineyard, and 46 mph at Taunton and Plymouth.Heavy rainfall associated with the storm totaled 1.5 to 2.5 inches in less than 12 hours. As much as 2.25 inches fell in Walpole, 2.05 inches in Dedham and 2.00 inches in Norwood. 1.93 inches of rain fell at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, with as much as 0.8 inches in one hour. There were no reports of flooding.In central and western Massachusetts, temperatures remained below freezing, which resulted in a period of freezing rain. Glaze accumulations of up to one-half inch were reported from Chicopee and Russell in Hampden County, Hubbardston and Leicester in Worcester County, and from Shutesbury in Franklin County. The accumulation of ice downed branches and wires in West Springfield and Chicopee. Scattered power outages affected about 2,000 customers, including about 1,300 in Ludlow.