Massachusetts, 2009

Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, January 28, 2009

January 28, 2009 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved through southern New England from the southwest spreading snow across the area. This was followed by strong warm advection resulting in a precipitation change to freezing rain.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 strong low pressure system moved through southern New England from the southwest spreading snow across the area. This was followed by strong warm advection resulting in a precipitation change to freezing rain.

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 Jan 28, 8:10 AM EST, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 28, 8:10 AM EST, 11 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 28, 4:18 AM EST, 4 hours 3 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jan 28, 4:14 AM EST, 4 hours 7 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 winter storm, 1 heavy snow, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Western Franklin

When
January 28, 8:21 AM EST to 10:00 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)

Five and a half inches of snow fell across western Franklin county.

Winter Storm, Northern Worcester

When
January 28, 8:23 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Worcester forecast zone
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nearly five inches of snow fell across northern Worcester county. An additional quarter of an inch of ice accumulated on top of the snow and on exposed surfaces. This ice accumulation was enough to down power lines in Leominster, Gardner, and Athol.

Winter Storm, Western Middlesex

When
January 28, 8:30 AM EST to 8:00 PM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Four and a half inches of snow fell across western Middlesex county. This was followed by freezing rain that left a glaze across much of the area.

Winter Storm, Southern Worcester

When
January 28, 9:28 AM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Worcester forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A little over four inches of snow fell across southern Worcester County. This was followed by two tenths of an inch of freezing rain. This ice accumulation was enough to down a few power lines in Southborough.

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When
January 28, 7:50 PM EST to 8:30 PM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Measured
46 kt (53 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Otis Air National Guard Base in Falmouth, MA (KFMH) recorded a wind gust of 53 mph. In nearby Harwich, a large light pole was blown down.

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.
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

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, January 2009

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: 150103, 150104, 150105, 150106, 150111.