A fast moving low pressure system moved through Southern New England bringing 4-10 inches of snow to the region. In addition, strong cold advection and pressure rises resulted in very cold temperatures, strong winds, and bitterly cold wind chills.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.
A fast moving low pressure system moved through Southern New England bringing 4-10 inches of snow to the region. In addition, strong cold advection and pressure rises resulted in very cold temperatures, strong winds, and bitterly cold wind chills.
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 Dec 31, 5:25 AM EST, 1 hour 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
525 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008
.SYNOPSIS...
FAST BUT INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK SOUTH OF NEW ENGLAND
TODAY BRINGING A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL TO THE ENTIRE REGION...ALONG
WITH STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS THIS EVENING ACROSS CAPE COD AND
NANTUCKET. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY VERY COLD AND WINDY WEATHER
TONIGHT AND NEW YEARS DAY. WEAKER WINTER STORMS MAY AFFECT THE
REGION LATE FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY AND AGAIN LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY.
TEMPERATURES WILL BE AT OR BELOW NORMAL THROUGH THE WEEKEND...THEN
POSSIBLY MODERATING DURING THE EARLY TO MIDDLE PORTION OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
STARTING TO SEE SNOW ON REGIONAL MOSAIC RADAR...BUT NOT MUCH
REACHING THE GROUND YET WITH DEWPOINTS ONLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND
LOWER TEENS. WILL TAKE SOME TIME FOR SNOW TO START...BUT SHOULD
BEGIN BY AROUND 7 AM OR SO OVER THE CT VALLEY INTO SW NH...THEN WILL
QUICKLY DEVELOP EASTWARD.
LOW PRES OVER W PA AT 09Z WILL TRANSFER ENERGY S OF LONG ISLAND THIS
MORNING. AS ENERGY TRANSFERS AND MOISTURE CONVERGENCE QUICKLY
DEVELOPS...WILL SEE SNOW BREAKING OUT ACROSS MOST AREAS BY MID
MORNING.
00Z OP MODEL RUNS CONTINUE TO SHOW BURST OF 1-2 INCH/HOUR SNOWFALL
RATES ACROSS MOST AREAS BY LATE MORNING WITH EXPLOSIVE LOW PRESSURE
DEVELOPMENT OFF THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND COAST AROUND MIDDAY. MODELS
SUGGESTING THAT THERE COULD BE UPWARDS TO AN 18 MB/6 HR PRES FALL S
OF NANTUCKET AROUND 18Z! MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW EXCELLENT SNOW
GROWTH REGION ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS ALONG WITH RAPIDLY
INCREASING MOISTURE OFF THE OCEAN FEEDING INTO THE COLD AIRMASS OVER
THE REGION. NAM 12KM RUN ALSO SHOWED SNOW BANDS NICELY THROUGH
MID-LATE AFTERNOON FROM AROUND CAPE ANN THROUGH WORCESTER TO SE MA
AND LOWER CAPE COD. SREF PROBS FOR >8 INCHES OF SNOW NOW SHOWING UP
FOR EASTERN AREAS...WITH 80 PERCENT CHANCE OF >4 INCHES ON THE 21Z
RUN.
WITH EXPLOSIVE DEVELOPMENT...HAVE MENTIONED CHANCE OF THUNDER ACROSS
CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS FOR A TIME...AS WELL AS SNOW FALLING
HEAVILY AT TIMES.
WITH A BIT OF A NORTHWARD SHIFT OF THE MAX QPF CONSIDERING THE TRACK
OF THE STRENGTHENING LOW...HAVE INCLUDED CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH
COUNTIES IN THE WINTER STORM WARNING. FEEL THEY WILL ALSO SEE THEIR
FAIR SHARE OF SNOW...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THEY WILL SEE HIGHER
RAIN/SNOW RATIO ON THE ORDER OF 15:1 OR HIGHER.
WITH THE VERY STRONG WINDS WRAPPING AROUND THE DEEPENING LOW AS IT
EXITS LATE THIS AFTERNOON...MODELS HAVE SUGGESTED GUSTS UP TO 50-55
KT. MODELS SUGGESTING GUSTS MAY APPROACH HURRICANE FORCE. HAVE
ISSUED HIGH WIND WARNING FOR CAPE COD...NANTUCKET AND MARTHAS
VINEYARD DUE TO THESE HIGH WINDS. MAY ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH
BLOWING SNOW ACROSS CAPE ANN DOWN TO THE CAPE LATER THIS AFTERNOON
INTO TONIGHT AS WINDS INCREASE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM THURSDAY/...
TONIGHT...AS THE LOW EXITS TONIGHT...VERY STRONG PRESSURE RISES
/MODELS SUGGEST UP TO 14 MB/6 HR RATE/...WILL ONLY ENHANCE THE
STRONG WINDS EARLY TONIGHT. ALSO...EXCELLENT COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL
ALLOW STRONG MIXING AND MOMENTUM TRANSFER. HAVE CONTINUED THE HIGH
WIND WARNING FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS THROUGH 06Z...AND WILL
ISSUE WIND ADVISORY FOR MOST OTHER AREAS ONCE THE WINTER STORM
WARNING EXPIRES.
WITH WINDS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE NORTH FOR A TIME AND SUCH A COLD
AIRMASS OVER THE RELATIVELY WARMER OCEAN WATERS...WILL LIKELY SEE
OCEAN EFFECT CLOUDS AND SNOW SHOWERS FOR A TIME OVER THE MID AND
OUTER CAPE AND NANTUCKET. THE WINDS WILL BACK TO NORTHWEST LATER
TONIGHT...SO THE SNOW SHOWERS WILL SHIFT OFFSHORE.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
DID NOT SPEND MUCH TIME IN THIS PERIOD GIVEN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER
FORECASTED TODAY AND THIS EVENING. VERY COLD CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED
THU WITH ARCTIC AIRMASS ENTRENCHED OVER THE REGION. AT 12Z THU BOTH
00Z ECMWF AND GFS HAVE 925MB TEMPS DOWN TO -18C TO -20C ACROSS THE
AREA!!!! THESE TEMPS COMBINED WITH A BLUSTERY NW WIND OF 20-30 MPH
WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL GENERATE WIND CHILLS OF -10F TO -20F ACROSS
THE HIGHER TERRAIN THU MORNING. THUS...WILL LIKELY NEED A WIND CHILL
ADVISORY AS THU APPROACHES FOR THE HIGHER TERRAIN. ELSEWHERE...WIND
CHILLS OF -5F TO +5F ARE EXPECTED. SO IN A NUTSHELL...VERY COLD
CONDITIONS THU ALL ZONES.
FRI-TUE...
MODELS /ESPECIALLY THE 00Z ECMWF AND 00Z GFS/ ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT
THIS PERIOD ON THE LARGE SCALE FLOW. NOT MUCH CHANGE TO PREVIOUS
FORECAST HERE...WITH CLIPPER TYPE LOW TO MOVE ACROSS THE REGION FRI.
HOWEVER...WITH FEATURE TRACKING ACROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND NOT
REDEVELOPING UNTIL WELL EAST OF THE REGION /GULF OF ME TO S OF NOVA
SCOTIA/...NOT EXPECTING MUCH IF ANY ACCUMULATING SNOWS HERE. TEMPS
WILL REBOUND FRI AHEAD OF CLIPPER LOW...WITH HIGHS CLIMBING INTO 30S.
SAT...
DRY WEATHER BEHIND DEPARTING CLIPPER LOW ALONG WITH A REINFORCING
SHOT OF COLD AIR ADVECTION. OUR HIGHS SAT ARE LIKELY A BIT
TOO WARM GIVEN MAGNITUDE OF COLD AIR ADVECTION. DAY SHIFT MAY HAVE
TO ADJUST DOWNWARD.
SUN/MON...
LOW AMPLITUDE SHORT WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA SUN NIGHT AND MON.
MODELS DIFFER ON STRENGTH OF SURFACE REFLECTION WITH 00Z GFS MORE
ROBUST THAN 00Z ECMWF. AS OF NOW IT APPEARS A PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM AND
NOT TO BE A HIGH IMPACT EVENT.
TUE/WED...
MODELS DIFFER ON LONG WAVE PATTERN HERE WITH 00Z ECMWF OFFERING
HIGHER HEIGHTS THAN THE 00Z GFS ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD. GIVEN
TIME RANGE HERE AND CONCERNS REGARDING HAZARDOUS WEATHER TODAY AND
TONIGHT...DID NOT ALTER THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST.
&&
.AVIATION /10Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
TODAY...SNOW HAS STARTED IN KALB...THOUGH NOT SEEING MANY MORE
REPORTS AS OF 10Z. PRECIP SHOULD BEGIN BY AROUND 12Z OR SO OVER THE
CT VALLEY/SW NH...THEN SPREAD E RATHER QUICKLY. SEVERAL HOURS OF
IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED IN SNOW...MAINLY DURING THE LATE
MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR
POSSIBLE...MAINLY ACROSS SECTIONS OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN MA/RI AND
INTO S CENTRAL NH. PEAK SNOW TIME WOULD BE BETWEEN 11 AM AND 5 PM.
CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE TO MVFR ACROSS THE WEST BY LATE
AFTERNOON AND THE WEST BY EVENING.
THOUGH NOT MENTIONED IN TAFS YET...MAY SEE THUNDER SNOW ACROSS
CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS AS DRY SLOT WRAPS IN WITH EXPLOSIVE
DEVELOPMENT. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT THIS WOULD OCCUR FROM ABOUT A
CAPE ANN-WORCESTER-SE MA AND CAPE COD AROUND THE MIDDAY TO EARLY
AFTERNOON TIMEFRAME.
AS LOW PULLS E OF THE CAPE...THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR N WIND GUSTS
UP TO 40 KNOTS DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON EXCEPT PERHAPS AS STRONG AS
60 KT ACROSS OUTER CAPE COD INCLUDING HYA-ACK STARTING AROUND 22Z.
TONIGHT...MVFR-IFR IMPROVING TO VFR EXCEPT ON CAPE COD WHERE THEY
WILL SEE OCEAN EFFECT SNOW BANDS EARLY. NW WIND GUSTING TO 40-55 KT
ON CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS THROUGH AT LEAST 06Z...WITH GUSTS TO 40
KT ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS. WINDS WILL DIMINISH OVER
WESTERN AREAS AFTER MIDNIGHT.
OUTLOOK...THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...
THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...VFR WITH NW WINDS DIMINISHING THU
NIGHT.
FRIDAY...VFR BRIEFLY LOWERING TO MVFR/IFR DURING THE EVENING.
SATURDAY...MAINLY VFR.
SUNDAY...VFR...PROBABLY LOWERING TO MVFR/IFR EVENING AND NIGHT.
&&
.MARINE...
TODAY...HAVE UPGRADED GALES TO STORM WARNINGS FOR THE OUTER WATERS
AS WELL AS CAPE COD AND BUZZARDS BAYS...NANTUCKET...VINEYARD AND
RHODE ISLAND SOUNDS FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY TONIGHT. EXPECT
WIND GUSTS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE LOW TO EXCEED 50 KT...POSSIBLY
REACHING 60 KT. WINDS WILL BACK FROM NE TO N AS HIGHEST WINDS
COMMENCE...SO SEAS WILL BE HIGH BUT BLOWING MAINLY OFFSHORE.
TONIGHT...GALE TO STORM FORCE WINDS TO CONTINUE THROUGH A CHUNK OF
THE NIGHT...THEN START TO SLOWLY DIMINISH AFTER 06Z OR SO. SEAS WILL
BUILD UP TO 15 FT...BUT WITH AN OFFSHORE WIND...SHOULD NOT CREATE
TOO MANY PROBLEMS.
OUTLOOK...THU THROUGH SUNDAY...
THU...
LINGERING GALES THURSDAY BUT WITH A DIMINISHING TREND THURSDAY
NIGHT. LIGHT TO MODERATE FREEZING SPRAY THU ESPECIALLY DURING THE
MORNING.
FRI...
WEAK LOW ZIPS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND AND THEN INTO GULF OF MAINE FRI
NIGHT.
SAT...
NW WINDS INCREASE BEHIND STRENGTHENING LOW PRES FROM NOVA SCOTIA TO
NEWFOUNDLAND. EXPECT NW WINDS OF 20-30 KT. LIGHT TO MODERATE
FREEZING SPRAY LIKELY.
SUN...
EASING WIND AND SEAS AS HIGH PRES BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
DESPITE IMPRESSIVE COASTAL STORM TO DEVELOP SOUTHEAST OF NANTUCKET
LATE TODAY...STRONGEST WIND AND LARGEST SURGE WILL OCCUR DURING LOW
TIDE THIS EVENING. THIS TIMING WILL LIKELY PRECLUDE ANY COASTAL
FLOODING. HOWEVER...WITH A VERY STRONG N WIND AND FORECASTED SEAS
UP TO 9 FT INTO CAPE COD BAY...MAY SEE SOME HIGH WAVES COMING ASHORE
FOR A TIME TONIGHT FOR COMMUNITIES RIMMING CAPE COD BAY ON THE CAPE
SIDE.
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
CTZ002>004.
MA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY FOR MAZ023-024.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EST THIS
EVENING FOR MAZ005>007-013>021-026.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON FOR
MAZ002>004-008>012.
HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY FOR MAZ022>024.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY FOR MAZ022.
NH...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR NHZ011-
012-015.
RI...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST
THURSDAY FOR RIZ008.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EST THIS
EVENING FOR RIZ001>007.
MARINE...STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY
FOR ANZ231>235-250-254-255.
GALE WARNING FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY FOR
ANZ230-236-237.
&&
SYNOPSIS...NOCERA
NEAR TERM...EVT
SHORT TERM...EVT
LONG TERM...NOCERA
AVIATION...NOCERA/EVT
MARINE...NOCERA/EVT
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...NOCERA/EVTHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 NHZ011-012-015-011100- CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH ARCTIC AIR AND A FRESH DEEP SNOW COVER ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT WILL YIELD BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS COMBINED WITH ARCTIC AIR AND A FRESH DEEP SNOW COVER ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY WILL YIELD BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. RIZ008-011100- BLOCK ISLAND RI- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...STRONG WINDS WILL DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. THESE WINDS COMBINED WITH HEAVY WET SNOW MAY RESULT IN DOWN TREE LIMBS AND POWER LINES...YIELDING POSSIBLE POWER OUTAGES. FINALLY...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL YIELD BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS WITH VALUES TO BETWEEN 0 AND 10 BELOW ZERO TONIGHT AND NEW YEARS MORNING...AS VERY COLD AIR WORKS INTO THE REGION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MAZ005>007-013>021-026-RIZ001>007-011100- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA- EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA- EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. WIND CHILLS WILL REMAIN BITTERLY COLD WITH VALUES BETWEEN 0 AND 10 BELOW ZERO NEW YEARS MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. CTZ002>004-MAZ002>004-008>012-011100- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL YIELD BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS WITH VALUES TO BETWEEN 0 AND 10 BELOW NEW YEARS MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ236-011100- NARRAGANSETT BAY- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE AGAIN POSSIBLE SOMETIME LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MAZ023-024-011100- DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS BETWEEN 0 AND 10 BELOW ZERO WILL CONTINUE INTO NEW YEARS MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MAZ022-011100- BARNSTABLE MA- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. HIGH WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS NEAR 50 ARE POSSIBLE EARLY THURSDAY. THEREFORE A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. THESE WINDS WILL YIELD BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS OF BETWEEN 0 AND 10 BELOW ZERO WILL CONTINUE INTO NEW YEARS MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ231>235-250-254-255-011100- CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-BUZZARDS BAY- RHODE ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA OUT 40 NM...INCLUDING THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO BLOCK ISLAND RI TO MARTHAS VINEYARD MA TO NANTUCKET MA SOUTHEAST TO 20 NM- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 1 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. STORM WARNING. IN ADDITION...LIGHT TO MODERATE FREEZING SPRAY IS EXPECTED TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NORTHWEST GALES LIKELY EARLY THU. LIGHT TO MODERATE FREEZING SPRAY EXPECTED THURSDAY ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORNING. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE AGAIN SOMETIME LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ230-237-011100- BOSTON HARBOR-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- 547 AM EST WED DEC 31 2008 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. GALE FORCE WINDS ARE POSSIBLE SOMETIME LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. NOCERA
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 heavy snow, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Five to six inches of snow fell in western Franklin County.
Five to seven inches of snow fell in Western Hampshire County.
Numerous reports of five to seven inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of five to seven inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of six to eight inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of six to eleven inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of eight to twelve inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of four to eight inches of snow were received.
Eight inches of snow fell in eastern Norfolk county.
Numerous reports of four to seven inches of snow were received.
Six inches of snow fell in the city of Boston.
Numerous reports of six to ten inches of snow were received.
Numerous reports of four to ten inches of snow were received.
Six inches of snow fell in southern Plymouth County.
The Automated Surface Observing Station at Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) recorded a sustained wind speed of 45 mph and gusts to 53 mph. No damage was reported.
An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 59 mph on his home weather station. No damage was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, December 2008
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: 144378, 144379, 144380, 144381, 144385, 144409, 144410, 144413, 144401, 144398, 144400, 144405, 144411, 144412, 144422, 144424.