Massachusetts, 2009Winter 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.
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
Open the live radar over this ground
- 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.
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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</html>Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 28, 4:18 AM EST, 4 hours 3 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jan 28, 4:14 AM EST, 4 hours 7 minutes before
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</html>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.
- 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.
- Winter Storm in Vermont, January 28 to 29, 2009$115,000 · 16 events
- Damaging Winds in North Carolina, January 28, 2009$100,000 · 56 kt wind · 5 events
- Winter Storm in New York, January 28, 2009$55,000 · 9 events
- Flooding in Kentucky, January 28 to 31, 2009$32,000 · 4 events
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, January 28 to 29, 200927 events
- Dense Fog in New Jersey, January 28, 200919 events
- Winter Storm in Maine, January 28 to 29, 200917 events
- Winter Weather in Connecticut, January 28, 2009$20,000 · 1 event
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Maine, January 28 to 29, 200915 events
- Winter Storm in New Hampshire, January 28, 200912 events
- Winter Weather in Texas, January 28, 20099 events
- Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, January 28 to 31, 200970 kt wind · 9 events
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.