Winter Storm and High Wind in Connecticut, March 8 to 9, 2005

Name: Winter Storm and High Wind in Connecticut, March 8 to 9, 2005
Start: 2005-03-08T14:00
End: 2005-03-09T03:00
Location: Connecticut

March 8 to 9, 2005 · NWS BOX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

Low pressure strengthened rapidly off the Delaware coast and tracked southeast of New England, bringing heavy snow and high winds to parts of northern Connecticut. The snow and high winds made travel difficult.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $45,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

Low pressure strengthened rapidly off the Delaware coast and tracked southeast of New England, bringing heavy snow and high winds to parts of northern Connecticut. Snowfall totals of 4 to 7 inches were widely observed in Hartford County.The snow and high winds made travel difficult. Several highways, including Interstate 84, were described by state police as "barely passable" during the height of the storm. In Hartford, downtown streets were jammed with cars as many businesses and state offices closed early. Commuting times were doubled or tripled in many locations.A trained spotter in Bristol measured a wind gust to 58 mph, but no damage was reported. In Windham County, high winds downed tree limbs and injured one person in Thompson.Officially, the snowfall total at Bradley International Airport was 7.1 inches. Other snowfall totals, as reported by trained spotters, included 7 inches in East Hartford, 6 inches in East Granby, and 5 inches in Burlington, Manchester, Union, Willington, and Vernon.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 8, 11:57 AM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 8, 11:57 AM EST, 2 hours 3 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATE 2
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1157 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005

...SEEMS LIKE A POWERFUL END TO WINTER FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT WEEK...

.SYNOPSIS...
POWERFUL WINTER PATTERN IN PROGRESS WITH NEAR RECORD LOW MAX
TEMPERATURES POSSIBLE TOMORROW.

&&

.SHORT TERM (REST OF TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT)...
RAPID CHANGES IN PROGRESS. ZONES AND GRIDS ATTEMPT TO SAY IT BEST.

EXPANDED WARNING INTO BOS NW SUBURBS AND SRN ORH CTY.  BLV AXIS MAX
SFALL WILL BE SHIFTING E INTO REGION ORH-LWM-MHT-AFN-ORH.

PREPARE FOR TREACHEROUS CONDITIONS AND SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES.
NEAR RECORD COILD HIGH TEMPERATURES TOMORROW WILL BE LISTED LATER.

THUNDER POSSIBLE ON THE CAPE BUT NOT TIME TO GRID IT.

SFC FRONT COLLAPSING SEWD INTO 12HR 210M HFC JUST SE OF NASHVILLE TN
AT 12Z. THIS HFC IS FCST FCST TO INTENSIFY INTO A 300M 12 HR HFC AS
IT CROSSES THE BENCHMARK ARD 03Z/9. THIS STORM WILL PROBABLY DEPART
TRADITION ON NW WIND IN COASTAL PLAIN DUE TO EXTREME NATURE OF DVLPT
THIS AFTN...ALL FORCES CENTERED I95 OR JUST E OF I95...WITH STG CNV
ALOFT...RAPID COOLING ALOFT. IE...SUBSTANTIAL SLEET AND SNOW CAN
OCCUR IN A FEW HRS IN THE COASTAL PLAIN.

THIS WILL NO DOUBT BE A HIGH IMPACT STORM BTWN 19Z TDY AND 04Z THIS
EVENING DUE TO PLUNGING TEMPS...FALLING PCPN.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POTENCY OF NASTY TRAVEL CONDITIONS LATE
TODAY AS CHANGE OCCURS AT INCREASING RATES AFTER 18Z.

LOWERED TEMPS TONIGHT BY 5F.

ADDED A WIND CHILL ADVY.

CONVERTED HWA TO WIND ADVY EXCPT WARNINGS WHERE FELT BEST CHC FOR
VERF BASED ON AVBL DATA.  PLS SEE STMTS.

SKYWARN ACTIVATION THIS AFTN/EVE TO KEEP US POSTED ON TRANSITION TO
ICE THEN S+ AND WIND RELATED DAMAGE OR WIND ADVY HIGH WIND WARNING
CRITERIA REPORTS.  DATA TO BE RELAYED TO THE OFFICE VIA WEB ENTRY
AND PROBABLYU SOMETIME ARD 2 PM OR AFTER WE SHOULD HAVE SKYWARN
OFFICE PRESENCE.

WEBENTRY WILL BE KEY.  THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ALL ASSISTANCE.

&&

.LONG TERM (THU-NEXT MON)...
WILL BE REVIEWING THE NEXT POTENTIAL LARGE STORM FOR FRI/SAT.
THIS SHOULD BRING AT LEAST A FEW INCHES OF SNOW...TRACK DEPENDENT ON
POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR. MODEL DISPERSION STILL CONTS FAIRLY LARGE.
&&

.AVIATION...
WIDESPREAD IFR/LIFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IN RAIN CHANGING TO
SLEET AND SNOW WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW DEVELOPING MOST
AIRPORTS THIS EVENING.
&&

.MARINE...
FEW CHANGES IN THE 1135 AM PKG.

FROM EARLY THIS MORNING BELOW.

AS MENTIONED ABOVE...BOTH NAM/ETA AND GFS SOUNDINGS INDICATE
WIDESPREAD GUST POTENTIAL OF 50 KT THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
GIVEN MAGNITUDE OF CYCLOGENESIS WILL HOIST A STORM WARNING FOR ALL
WATERS...EXCEPT BOSTON HARBOR AND NARR BAY...WHERE LAND TRAJ (WEST
WINDS) SHOULD YIELD SOMEWHAT LOWER WINDS. SO WILL CAP WINDS HERE IN
THE GALE FORCE RANGE. WINDS AND SEAS BEGIN TO LOWER WED...AS PRES
GRADIENT RELAXES WITH POWERFUL LOW MOVING N THROUGH EASTERN CANADA.

.HYDROLOGY...
FROM EARLY THIS MORNING.

FAIRLY CONFIDENT THE JUICIER GFS QPF AMOUNTS OF 1.00 TO 1.50 WILL
VERIFY ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. MUCH OF THIS PRECIPITATION WILL FALL
AS RAIN ALONG THE I95 CORRIDOR AND POINTS SOUTHEAST AND THE
COMBINATION OF THE RAIN AND SNOWMELT WILL CAUSE SOME POOR DRAINAGE
FLOODING PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY OVER URBAN LOCATIONS. WILL ISSUE A FLOOD
STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTING THESE CONCERNS.
&&

.EQUIPMENT..
NO CHH RAOB EXPECTED BEFORE TOMORROW MORNING AT THE EARLIEST AND
POSSIBLY NOT TIL TOMORROW NIGHT.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CTZ002>004 FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 4
     AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WIND ADVISORY FOR CTZ002>004 FROM 5 PM TUESDAY TO 3 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR CTZ002-003 FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
MA...WIND ADVISORY FOR MAZ002-003-005-006-008>011-013-014-017-018-
     020-021-026 FROM 5 PM TUESDAY TO 3 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR MAZ002>016-026 FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO
     9 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR MAZ002>006-008>012-026 FROM 1 PM
     TUESDAY TO 4 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR MAZ004-007-012-015-016-019-022>024 FROM
     6 PM TUESDAY TO 4 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR MAZ007-013>016 FROM 2 PM TUESDAY
     TO 4 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINING ZONES 4 PM TO MIDNIGHT EXCEPT
     NOT CC AND THE ISLANDS.
NH...WIND ADVISORY FOR NHZ011-012-015 FROM 5 PM TUESDAY TO 3 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR NHZ011-012-015 FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO
     9 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER STORM WARNING FOR NHZ011-012-015 FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 4
     AM WEDNESDAY.
RI...WIND ADVISORY FOR RIZ001>008 FROM 5 PM TUESDAY TO 3 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR RIZ001 FROM 1 AM WEDNESDAY TO 9 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR RIZ001 FROM 2 PM TUESDAY TO 4 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINING RI ZONES 4 PM MIDNIGHT.
MARINE...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ230-236 FROM 6 PM TUESDAY TO 4 AM
     WEDNESDAY.
  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ230-231-250 FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 6
     PM TUESDAY.
  ...STORM WARNING FOR ANZ231>235-237-250-254-255 FROM 6 PM TUESDAY
     TO 4 AM WEDNESDAY.
  ...GALE WARNING FOR ANZ232-254-255 FROM 1 PM TUESDAY TO 6 PM
     TUESDAY.
  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ232-254-255 FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 1
     PM TUESDAY.
  ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ233>237 FROM 6 AM TUESDAY TO 6 PM
     TUESDAY.

&&

SYNOPSIS...DRAG
HYDROLOGY...NOCERA/STRAUSS/DRAG
SHORT TERM...DRAG
LONG TERM...EVT

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 8, 6:06 AM EST, 7 hours 54 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
606 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-091100-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
606 AM EST TUE MAR 8 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...
MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT...AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE (TODAY & TONIGHT)...
A WINTER STORM WARNING...A HIGH WIND WATCH...A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY...GALE AND STORM WARNINGS HAVE ALL BEEN POSTED EARLY THIS
MORNING. PLEASE SEE THOSE STATEMENTS FOR DETAILS.

6 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
ACROSS INTERIOR MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THIS INCLUDES
SPRINGFIELD...ORANGE...FITCHBURG AND ALL SECTIONS NORTH AND WEST OF
WORCESTER. FARTHER TO THE SOUTH AND EAST...A WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM HARTFORD...WOONSOCKET...WORCESTER...
BOSTON...LOWELL...LAWRENCE AND NEWBURYPORT.  ACROSS THIS AREA RAIN
WILL CHANGE TO SNOW LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING...
AND CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SNOW ACCUMULATION FROM 2 TO 6
INCHES...HIGHEST AMOUNTS WEST PORTIONS.

IN ADDITION...A PERIOD OF STRONG WEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT...
WITH WIND SPEEDS POSSIBLY GUSTING TO 60 MPH ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION.
THEREFORE...A HIGH WIND WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED. WINDS OF THIS
MAGNITUDE MAY RESULT IN POWER OUTAGES.

FURTHERMORE...HEAVY RAIN COMBINED WITH MELTING SNOW SHOULD PRODUCE
POOR DRAINAGE AND URBAN FLOODING LATE THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON...
FROM PROVIDENCE TO BOSTON AND SOUTHEAST TO CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS.

.DAY TWO THROUGH SEVEN (WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY)...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE CONTINUES TO BE INDICATIONS OF A POSSIBLE MAJOR COASTAL
SNOW STORM IMPACTING THE REGION LATER FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.

HOWEVER... AT THIS TIME THE TRACK OF THE STORM REMAINS UNCERTAIN. IF
A COASTAL STORM DOES DEVELOP...THERE IS A RISK OF COASTAL FLOODING AS
ASTRONOMICAL TIDES ARE FAIRLY HIGH. NEVERTHELESS...ALL RESIDENTS OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS FOR UPDATES ON
THIS POTENTIAL WINTER STORM.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
FOR SNOW (OR ICE) AND WIND CRITERIA.  WE THANK IN ADVANCE ALL
SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR ALL THESE REPORTS.

NOCERA

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 high wind, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Hartford

When: March 8, 2:00 PM EST to March 9, 3:00 AM EST
Where: Hartford forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.819, -72.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Hartford

When: March 8, 8:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Hartford forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.819, -72.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Windham

When: March 8, 8:00 PM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Windham forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $45,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.827, -71.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Connecticut in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Connecticut, March 2005

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: 5444347, 5444348, 5444349.