Massachusetts, 2013

Blizzard and Coastal Flood in Massachusetts, February 8 to 10, 2013

February 8 to 10, 2013 · NWS BOX · 48 events in 24 counties and zones

An historic winter storm deposited tremendous amounts of snow over all of southern New England, mainly from the mid-afternoon on Friday, February 8 and lasting into the daylight hours of Saturday, February 9. What made this an amazing storm was the widespread coverage of heavy snowfall.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 48 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
3
Injuries
0
Property damage
$22 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
48

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.

An historic winter storm deposited tremendous amounts of snow over all of southern New England, mainly from the mid-afternoon on Friday, February 8 and lasting into the daylight hours of Saturday, February 9. What made this an amazing storm was the widespread coverage of heavy snowfall. Most locations received 2 to 2.5 feet of snow! A stationary band of even heavier snowfall persisted from southwest NH through central MA and on to the southwest across central and western CT. In those areas, reports averaged closer to 2.5 to 3 feet! Along the southeast MA coast, average amounts ranged from 1 to 2 feet. Only on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket were snowfall totals less than 1 foot (6 to 12 inches). Isolated thunderstorms were common across the entire region during the height of the storm.

A low pressure system advancing from the Great Lakes region combined forces with a very moist low pressure system moving northeast from the Gulf Coast states. Explosive deepening took place Friday evening, February 8, as a low center moved from the North Carolina coast to south of Nantucket. Strong high pressure to the north of New England helped ensure that cold air remained in place over the area. Snowfall gained intensity during the afternoon, but during the night, 2 to 3 inch per hour amounts were common throughout the region. The band of heaviest snowfall, with 3 to 5 inches per hour for several hours, extended from southwest NH to central and western CT. The precipitation started as mainly snow, although a brief period of rain at the onset was common on the Islands. Snow ended in the morning in western and central MA, southwest NH, most of CT and RI, and in the early afternoon across eastern MA. It lingered during the whole afternoon over Cape Cod and Nantucket, aided by some ocean-effect bands of snowfall.

The Blizzard of 2013 also produced a prolonged period of very strong winds Friday night along the MA and RI coasts. Gusts exceeded hurricane force (74 mph) at a few locations. Gale force gusts (to 50 mph) continued on the MA coast through Saturday afternoon. The strong winds, combined with a wet snow, led to extensive power outages from downed trees and wires in southeast coastal MA and in southern RI. Elsewhere, farther inland, the snow became drier and did not cling to trees like it did along the south and southeast coast of New England. Some wind gusts included: 76 mph at Logan Int l. Airport (Boston, MA), 75 mph at Bedford, MA, 77 mph at Hyannis, MA and 68 mph in Jamestown, RI. Damaging gusts to 60 mph were recorded as far west as Worcester County, MA. Wind gusts of 35 to 50 mph were common elsewhere in southern New England.| |In addition, moderate to major coastal flooding occurred, most notably during the time of the high tide Saturday morning along the Massachusetts east coast. At the storm's height near the early morning low tide, the storm surge reached 3 to 4 feet along much of the MA east coast from Boston south. At the time of the mid-morning high tide, the winds had shifted from northeast to north and the surge had dropped to 1.5 to 2.5 feet for most MA east coast locations. However, this was an astronomically high tide given the nearness to the time of the new moon, and waves to 30 feet had built just 15 miles off the coast. Consequently, many coastal roadways were impassable from Salisbury and Gloucester to Marshfield and Scituate on the south shore and on parts of Cape Cod. Water several feet deep was seen flowing into some vulnerable homes in Scituate. Although there was some structural damage, it did not come close to what was experienced during the Blizzard of 1978. Minor tidal flooding occurred along the south coasts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island during times of high tide Friday night and Saturday morning.

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 Feb 8, 4:53 AM EST, 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 8, 4:53 AM EST, 7 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
453 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013

.SYNOPSIS...
A HISTORIC WINTER STORM AND BLIZZARD IS ANTICIPATED FOR FRIDAY
INTO SATURDAY...WITH AROUND 2 FEET OF SNOW POSSIBLE. THIS STORM
SHOULD COME TO AN END LATER SATURDAY. DRY WEATHER RETURNS BY
SUNDAY. A GREAT LAKES STORM WILL SWING A COLD FRONT THROUGH NEW
ENGLAND ON MONDAY NIGHT...FOLLOWED BY DRY WEATHER TUESDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL NOON TODAY/...
345 AM UPDATE...FORECAST IS ON TRACK FOR THE MOST PART. CAN SEE
ON THE MOSAIC RADAR A LARGE AREA OF PRECIP ACROSS NEW YORK STATE
AND EDGING INTO NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND AS WELL AS AN AREA OF PRECIP
ACROSS THE MID-ATLANTIC. LOOKING AT SURFACE OBS...THE AREA OVER
NEW YORK STATE IS EVAPORATING BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND WHICH
MAKES SENSE WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 20S AND DEWPOINTS IN THE
LOW TEENS. THE AREA OF PRECIP OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC IS PRODUCING
RAIN AND SNOW. THESE TWO AREAS OF PRECIP WILL BE WHAT WILL
COMPRISE OUR STORM TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

MEANWHILE...A 1038 MB HIGH CENTERED OVER QUEBEC AND EXTENDS
ACROSS NEW ENGLAND. THE HIGH WILL SHIFT EAST A LITTLE
OVERNIGHT...EXTENDING ALONG AN ARC FROM QUEBEC TO THE MARITIMES.
THIS WILL KEEP THE COLD AIR IN PLACE OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.
SKIES HAVE BECOME OVERCAST...WITH LOW CLOUDS DEVELOPING ON THE
EAST COAST...CAPE...AND ISLANDS. LIGHT SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE
AREA THIS MORNING AS WARM ADVECTION CONTINUES AND HIGHER DEWPOINTS
MOVE INTO THE REGION.

&&

.SHORT TERM /NOON TODAY THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
* A POTENTIALLY HISTORIC WINTER STORM/BLIZZARD WILL IMPACT
  SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY INTO SATURDAY.

* BLIZZARD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CT...RI...E/SE
  MA...AND SE NH. WINTER STORM WARNINGS FOR ALL OTHER LOCATIONS
  IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

* SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR THE STORM MAY BE IN THE ALL-TIME TOP 10 FOR
  VARIOUS CITIES...UP TO AROUND 2 TO 3 FEET POSSIBLE. BLOWING
  AND DRIFTING ANTICIPATED RESULTING IN HIGHER DRIFTS.

* TRAVEL CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE QUICKLY THROUGH TODAY...
  BECOMING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE BY THIS EVENINGS COMMUTE INTO
  SATURDAY.

MODEL CONSENSUS...

THE MODELS ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT AND IN LINE WITH THE
CONSISTENT ECMWF. GIVEN THIS CONSISTENCY AND CONTINUED
AGREEMENT...HAVE MADE FEW CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST
LARGELY BASED ON THE ECMWF.

SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE IN THE GREAT LAKES AND LOW PRESSURE OFF THE SOUTH
CAROLINA COAST WILL COME TOGETHER EAST OF THE DELMARVA PENINSULA
AND RAPIDLY DEEPEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE 40N/70W BENCHMARK. WITH
THE SOUTHERN STREAM COMPONENT...DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL BE
BROUGHT UP BY VERY STRONG /HURRICANE FORCE OR GREATER/ LOW LEVEL
WINDS. EXPECT NEAR BLIZZARD TO BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO AFFECT ALL
OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY.

PRECIPITATION...

LIGHT SNOW THROUGH THE MORNING WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY INTO
THE AFTERNOON HOURS. WARM AIR INTRUDING AT THE MID LEVELS WILL
BRING A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW ALONG THE IMMEDIATE SOUTH COAST OF
RHODE ISLAND AND MASSACHUSETTS WITH A COMPLETE CHANGEOVER TO RAIN
LIKELY ON THE OUTER CAPE AND THE ISLANDS FOR A PERIOD TONIGHT.

SNOW WILL FURTHER INTENSIFY DURING THE EVENING COMMUTE INTO
TONIGHT. MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO MIDDAY
SATURDAY. IT WILL BECOME LIGHTER DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS
SATURDAY...GRADUALLY TAPERING WEST TO EAST AS THE SURFACE LOW
EXITS OUT INTO THE ATLANTIC INTO SATURDAY NIGHT.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS...

MESOSCALE BANDING IS LIKELY TO OCCUR ACROSS THE AREA. WHERE THESE
BANDS SET UP...2 TO 3 INCH/HR SNOWFALL RATES ARE POSSIBLE. IN
ADDITION...A SNOWFALL BAND IS EXPECTED WITH THE MID LEVEL
DEFORMATION ZONE...SETTING UP ALONG THE BOSTON-PROVIDENCE
CORRIDOR. EXPECT THIS IS WHERE THE HIGHEST SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL
OCCUR...WITH STORM TOTALS IN EXCESS OF 24 INCHES POSSIBLE.

GENERALLY EXPECT WIDESPREAD 18 TO 24 INCH SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. AMOUNTS WHERE THE MESOSCALE BANDING PERSISTS
FOR A SIGNIFICANT LENGTH OF TIME COULD APPROACH 3 FEET.  LESSER
AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE OUTER CAPE AND THE ISLANDS WITH THE
CHANGEOVER TO RAIN.

WINDS...
EXPECT HIGH WIND CRITERIA /GUSTS GREATER THAN 58 MPH/ THROUGHOUT
THE BLIZZARD WARNING AREA AS WELL AS NANTUCKET TONIGHT AND
SATURDAY. LOW LEVEL WINDS UP TO 90 KTS COMBINED WITH PRECIPITATION
DRAG AND EXCELLENT MIXING WILL RESULT IN VERY GUSTY WINDS. WINDS
WILL GUST FROM AROUND 30 MPH ACROSS WESTERN NEW ENGLAND INCREASING
TO THE COAST TO NEAR HURRICANE FORCE. THIS WILL RESULT IN DOWNED
TREES AND POTENTIAL STRUCTURAL DAMAGE.

THESE WINDY CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND
DRIFTING OF SNOW.

PREPAREDNESS...

PLEASE SEE THE SNOW BRIEFING PAGE ON WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON FOR
PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
DID NOT FOCUS ON THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST TOO MUCH. MAINLY
TRIED TO FRESHEN UP THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST BASED USING THE
CONSENSUS OF THE 08/00Z GFS AND ECMWF. THERE ARE RELATIVELY MINOR
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE MODELS THROUGH WEDNESDAY...THEN MORE
SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES ARISE TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

BIG PICTURE...

UPPER LOW OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST SHOULD TURN THE CORNER AND
MOVE INTO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES MONDAY. PART OF THIS UPPER LOW
LINGERS OVER THE SOUTHWEST EARLY NEXT WEEK...THEN SWEEPS NORTHEAST
TOWARD NEW ENGLAND DURING MIDWEEK AS AN OPEN WAVE MID-LEVEL
TROUGH.

THE DAILIES...

SATURDAY NIGHT...MAJOR STORM DEPARTS EAST SATURDAY NIGHT.
LINGERING EVENING SNOW ON THE CAPE BUT SHOULD END QUICKLY.
STRONGEST PRESSURE RISES SHOULD BE OFFSHORE...BUT STILL 2MB/HOUR
RISES ARE EXPECTED EARLY AT NIGHT AND 1 MB/HOUR LATE.  SO SUSTAINED
WINDS WILL BE STRONG DURING THE FIRST PART OF THE NIGHT FOLLOWED BY
DIMINISHING SPEEDS OVERNIGHT.  SUFFICIENT LOW LEVEL MIXING TO
SUPPORT 50 KNOT/60 MPH GUSTS EARLY...BUT THIS ALSO DIMINISHES
OVERNIGHT. TEMPERATURES WERE A BLEND OF MOS.

THE COMBINATION OF WIND AND COLD AIR WILL BRING WIND CHILLS BELOW
ZERO ALMOST EVERYWHERE...AND BELOW -10F OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF
OUR AREA.  THERE MEANS A POTENTIAL FOR A WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN
PARTS OF THE AREA.

SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE REGION.  FAIR WEATHER WITH
DIMINISHING WIND. TEMPERATURES WERE A BLEND OF MOS.

MONDAY...LOW PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE AND ALOFT MOVES THROUGH THE
GREAT LAKES. THIS SWINGS BOTH A WARM FRONT AND A COLD FRONT
THROUGH NEW ENGLAND LATE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT. INCREASING
MOISTURE ALOFT...SO EXPECTING INCREASING CLOUDS MONDAY MORNING.
GOOD ISENTROPIC LIFT IS FORECAST TO REACH US LATE MORNING WITH
25-30 MB/HOUR VALUES AT 850 MB MONDAY AFTERNOON. MODEL CONSENSUS
MATCHES WELL THIS THIS...ALL SHOW MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION WEST OF
OUR REGION AT 12Z MONDAY AND OVERSPREADING OUR AREA BY 18Z. OUR
FORECAST FEATURES LIKELY POPS ARRIVING MID TO LATE MORNING...THEN
DIMINISHING DURING THE EVENING AS A COLD FRONT MOVES OFF TO THE
EAST.

TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE REGION...SO
EXPECT QUIET WEATHER. MIXING POTENTIAL FOR WINDS WOULD FAVOR 25 KT
GUSTS TUESDAY.

THURSDAY...UPPER TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. BOTH THE THE ECMWF AND GFS
ARE LARGELY DRY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS FEATURE. STILL SOME
UNCERTAINTY AT THIS STAGE.

&&

.AVIATION /10Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS...
  LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT.
  MODERATE...30 TO 60 PERCENT.
  HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT.

OVERVIEW...HIGH CONFIDENCE TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH CONDITIONS...
MODERATE CONFIDENCE ON EXACT TIMING.

THROUGH THIS MORNING...EXPECT DRY WEATHER THROUGH 10-12Z WITH VFR
CONDITIONS FOR RHODE ISLAND...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...
MASSACHUSETTS WEST OF WORCESTER AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. MVFR
CIGS ALONG THE EAST COAST OF MASSACHUSETTS. CONDITIONS WILL LOWER
ACROSS THE AREA TOWARDS 12Z AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING AS
LIGHT SNOW MOVES INTO THE AREA.

THIS AFTERNOON...CONDITIONS LOWER TO IFR DURING THE AFTN SNOW
INTENSITY INCREASES. SNOW ALL TERMINALS EXCEPT POSSIBLY MIXING
WITH RAIN AT ACK. NORTHEAST WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE WITH SURFACE
VALUES REACHING 25-40 KNOTS BY EVENING...EAST WINDS AT 2000 FEET
WILL REACH 60 KNOTS ALONG THE SOUTH COAST BY EVENING...BRINGING
POTENTIAL LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.

TONIGHT...IFR ALL TERMINALS AND VERY STRONG WINDS EASTERN MA WITH
NE WINDS G60KT ACROSS CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS. WINDS AT 2000 FEET
AGL WILL GUST 70-90 KNOTS BOS-PVD-CAPE AND ISLANDS. GUSTS 35-50
KT POSSIBLE FARTHER WEST. SNOWFALL RATES 1-2 IN PER HOUR ALL
TERMINALS.

KBOS TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TAF

KBDL TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TAF.

OUTLOOK...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...

SATURDAY...IFR/LIFR ALL TERMINALS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL RATES OF
1-2 IN PER HOUR IN THE AM FOR EASTERN MA AND RI. G60KT REMAIN
POSSIBLE FOR CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS. THEN IMPROVING FROM WEST
TO EAST DURING THE AFTERNOON WITH CONDITIONS POSSIBLY IMPROVING TO
MVFR ALONG WITH WINDS SLOWLY DIMINISHING.

SATURDAY NIGHT...LINGERING STRONG NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS EARLY
ESPECIALLY AROUND BOSTON AND THE CAPE/ISLANDS WITH POTENTIAL GUSTS
40-50 KNOTS. WINDS DIMINISH DURING THE NIGHT.

SUNDAY...VFR WITH DIMINISHING WIND.

MONDAY...VFR EARLY BUT WITH LOWERING CIGS THROUGH THE DAY.  MVFR
CIGS AND MVFR/IFR VSBYS IN RAIN AND SNOW LATE MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT.

TUESDAY...VFR WITH WEST WINDS.

&&

.MARINE...
THROUGH SATURDAY...HIGH CONFIDENCE FOR AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
STORM FOR MARINERS. WINDS AND SEAS INCREASE THROUGH THIS TIME
PERIOD AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES OVER THE COASTAL WATERS. SEAS WILL
INCREASE TO 30 TO 35 FEET EAST OF MASSACHUSETTS. HURRICANE FORCE
WIND GUSTS ARE EXPECTED IN THIS SAME AREA WITH A 80 TO 90 KT LOW
LEVEL JET. SEAS BEGIN TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE SAT AFTERNOON.

OUTLOOK...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...

SATURDAY NIGHT...DIMINISHING NORTH WINDS. WIND GUSTS AT STORM
FORCE EARLY...BUT DIMINISHING TO GALES OR LIGHTER BY SUNRISE.
DIMINISHING SEAS AS WELL...BUT STILL HAZARDOUS ACROSS THE EASTERN
WATERS AND SOUTHERN OUTER WATERS THROUGH THE NIGHT. THE WIND AND
COLD AIR WILL GENERATE FREEZING SPRAY CONDITIONS ACROSS MOST OF
THE WATERS THROUGH THE NIGHT.

SUNDAY...DIMINISHING WINDS AND SEAS AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES OVER
THE WATERS. LINGERING FREEZING SPRAY DURING THE MORNING.

MONDAY...INCREASING SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS DURING THE AFTERNOON.
WINDS WILL GUST TO 25 KNOTS IN THE AFTERNOON WITH SEAS NEAR 5 FEET
TOWARD EVENING. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS AT NIGHT WITH
SOUTHWEST WINDS EARLY AND WEST WINDS LATE.

TUESDAY...WEST WINDS GUSTING TO 25 KT AND SEAS NEAR 5 FEET MUCH OF
THE DAY.

&&

.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
*** COASTAL FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM SALISBURY MA
 SOUTHWARD TO MARTHAS VINEYARD FOR THIS EVENING AND SAT MORNING
 HIGH TIDE ***

MASSACHUSETTS COASTLINE...

TWO HIGH TIDE CYCLES PRESENT CONCERN...THIS EVENING AND SATURDAY
MORNING. A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR ALL E...NE
AND N FACING SHORELINES ALONG THE MA COAST FOR BOTH THIS EVENING
AND SAT MORNING HIGH TIDES. FOR THIS EVENINGS HIGH TIDE...ONSHORE
WINDS...SURGE AND SEAS WILL BE RAMPING UP. WE THINK THE SURGE WILL
BE GETTING INTO THE 2 TO 3 FT RANGE AND SEAS A LITTLE OFFSHORE IN
THE 15 TO 20 FT RANGE BY THE TIME OF THE HIGH TIDE...GENERALLY
BETWEEN 930 PM AND 10 PM. THIS RESULTS IN A MINOR TO MODERATE
IMPACT.

THE SATURDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE MAY BE THE MORE SERIOUS EVENT AS A
CONSEQUENCE OF IT BEING A HIGH ASTRONOMICAL TIDE AND VERY LARGE
SEAS. WE THINK THE SURFACE WIND ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST WILL
HAVE BACKED TO NNE OR N BY THE TIME OF THE HIGH TIDE...BUT STILL
NE WITH A LONG FETCH OVER THE GULF OF ME AND NORTHERN GEORGES
BANK. THE SURGE MAY BE STARTING TO SUBSIDE WITH THE WIND SHIFTING
TO BE MORE FROM THE NORTH VS NORTHEAST BUT STILL IN THE 2 TO 3 FT
RANGE...HIGHEST S OF BOSTON. IN FACT...WE ARE CALLING FOR A 4 TO
4.5 FT SURGE ALONG THE N SIDE OF CAPE COD...INCLUDING THE
SANDWICH/SPRING HILL BEACH AREA WHERE THE WIND WILL BE MORE
DIRECTLY ONSHORE. SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE 25 TO 30 FT E AND NE OF
CAPE ANN AND 30 TO 35 FT IN VICINITY OF STELLWAGEN BANK AND JUST
OFF E OF CAPE COD AND NANTUCKET. THUS...WE ARE ANTICIPATING A
MODERATE IMPACT ALONG THE MA E COAST N OF BOSTON AND MODERATE TO
MAJOR S OF BOSTON. WE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH THE IMPACT OF
LARGE BREAKERS ON TOP OF AN ELEVATED TIDE. THERE IS A RISK OF SOME
STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COASTLINE SATURDAY
MORNING...ESPECIALLY HULL TO SANDWICH.

RI COAST...

NOT TOO MUCH CONCERN FOR FLOODING GIVEN STORM TRACK YIELDING
NORTHEAST WINDS. HOWEVER WITH TIDES ASTRONOMICALLY HIGH AND GOOD
PRES FALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COASTAL STORM...POCKETS OF MINOR
COASTAL FLOODING ARE POSSIBLE FOR THE RI COAST. ALSO FLOOD
THRESHOLD FOR RI COASTLINE IS NOW A BIT LOWER AFTER SANDY ERODED
AWAY MUCH OF THE DUNES ALONG THE COASTLINE.

BEACH EROSION...

THE OTHER ISSUE IS BEACH EROSION. THE BEACH EROSION WILL BEGIN TO
BE NOTED BY THIS EVENINGS HIGH TIDE AND MAY BE SEVERE IN SOME
LOCATIONS FOR THE SATURDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE...INCLUDING THE PLUM
ISLAND AREA...SCITUATE TO PLYMOUTH AND SANDWICH...OUTER CAPE
INCLUDING CHATHAM...AND THE EAST SIDE OF NANTUCKET.

COASTAL FLOOD DEFINITIONS...

MAJOR COASTAL FLOODING...AT LEAST SCATTERED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE ALONG
WITH WIDESPREAD FLOODING OF VULNERABLE SHORE ROADS AND/OR BASEMENTS
EVACUATIONS MAY BE NECESSARY IN SOME AREAS.

MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING...ISOLATED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE POSSIBLE.
NUMEROUS ROAD CLOSURES.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR CTZ002>004.
MA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR MAZ002>004-
     008>011-026.
     BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR MAZ005>007-
     012>023.
     COASTAL FLOOD WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST
     SATURDAY FOR MAZ007-015-016-019-022>024.
     HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST
     SATURDAY FOR MAZ024.
     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST
     SATURDAY FOR MAZ024.
NH...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR NHZ011-015.
     BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR NHZ012.
RI...BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY FOR RIZ001>008.
MARINE...STORM WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY
     FOR ANZ231>237.
     STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY
     FOR ANZ230-251.
     HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM EST SATURDAY
     FOR ANZ250-254.
     HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM
     EST SATURDAY FOR ANZ255-256.

&&

SYNOPSIS...RLG/BELK
NEAR TERM...RLG
SHORT TERM...RLG/BELK
LONG TERM...BELK
AVIATION...RLG/BELK
MARINE...RLG/BELK
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...THOMPSON/NOCERA
Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 7, 6:55 PM EST, 10 hours 5 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

MAZ002>004-008>011-026-NHZ011-012-015-090000-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   WINTER STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

CTZ002>004-MAZ005-006-012>014-017-018-020-021-RIZ001>008-090000-
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MAZ007-015-016-019-022-023-090000-
EASTERN ESSEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM FRIDAY TO 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM FRIDAY TO NOON EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   BLIZZARD WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

MAZ024-090000-
NANTUCKET MA-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM FRIDAY TO NOON EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HIGH WIND WARNING.
   WINTER STORM WARNING.
   COASTAL FLOOD WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ255-256-090000-
COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND
NANTUCKET-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO
20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM FRIDAY TO 8 AM
EST SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS
AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ250-254-090000-
COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA
OUT 20 NM-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM TO 1 PM EST
SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ230-251-090000-
BOSTON HARBOR-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ231>237-090000-
CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-BUZZARDS BAY-
RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-
655 PM EST THU FEB 7 2013

...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM FRIDAY TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS
AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   STORM WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 heavy snow, 15 blizzard, 6 coastal flood, 3 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Essex

When
February 8, 5:00 AM EST to February 9, 9:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Essex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nineteen to twenty-nine inches of snow fell across eastern Essex County.

Heavy Snow, Western Essex

When
February 8, 6:00 AM EST to February 9, 10:00 AM EST
Where
Western Essex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty-four to twenty-five inches of snow fell across western Essex County.

Heavy Snow, Western Middlesex

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nineteen to twenty-nine inches of snow fell across western Middlesex County.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Hampshire

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Hampshire forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eighteen to twenty-five inches of snow fell across eastern Hampshire County.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Hampden

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eighteen to twenty-eight inches of snow fell across eastern Hampden County.

Heavy Snow, Southern Worcester

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Worcester forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 1 indirect
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty to thirty inches of snow fell across southern Worcester County. A 60 year old off-duty firefighter died after suffering a heart attack while shoveling snow in Webster.

Heavy Snow, Western Norfolk

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Western Norfolk forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty-two to twenty-six inches of snow fell across western Norfolk County.

Heavy Snow, Northern Bristol

When
February 8, 11:00 AM EST to February 9, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Bristol forecast zone
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eighteen to twenty-three inches of snow fell across northern Bristol County.

Heavy Snow, Southeast Middlesex

When
February 8, 12:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty to twenty-eight inches of snow fell across southeastern Middlesex County.

Heavy Snow, Suffolk

When
February 8, 12:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Suffolk forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty-three to twenty-eight inches of snow fell across Suffolk County. Two people died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in their cars during or after the storm. One was a 13 or 14 year old boy whose father had put him in the car to warm up while they were shoveling snow in Roxbury. The tailpipe was clogged with snow. The other was a man in his 20s who was found in Mattapan in a running vehicle, the tailpipe also clogged with snow.

Heavy Snow, Southern Bristol

When
February 8, 12:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Bristol forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thirteen to twenty-four inches of snow fell across southern Bristol County.

Heavy Snow, Northern Worcester

When
February 8, 1:00 PM EST to February 9, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Worcester forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eighteen to thirty-one inches of snow fell across northern Worcester County.

Heavy Snow, Western Plymouth

When
February 8, 1:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Western Plymouth forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fifteen to twenty inches of snow fell across western Plymouth County.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Franklin

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Franklin forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nineteen to twenty three inches of snow fell across eastern Franklin County.

Heavy Snow, Western Franklin

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:00 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)

Fourteen to twenty-two inches of snow fell across western Franklin County.

Heavy Snow, Western Hampshire

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Western Hampshire forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sixteen to twenty-four inches of snow fell across western Hampshire County.

Heavy Snow, Western Hampden

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:00 PM EST
Where
Western Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty to twenty-four inches of snow fell across western Hampden County.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Norfolk

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 6:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty-three to twenty-six inches of snow fell across eastern Norfolk County.

Heavy Snow, Northwest Middlesex County

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Northwest Middlesex County forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eighteen to twenty-five inches of snow fell across northwestern Middlesex County.

Heavy Snow, Eastern Plymouth

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Plymouth forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty to twenty-one inches of snow fell across eastern Plymouth County.

Heavy Snow, Southern Plymouth

When
February 8, 2:00 PM EST to February 9, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twelve to eighteen inches of snow fell across southern Plymouth County.

Heavy Snow, Barnstable

When
February 8, 3:00 PM EST to February 9, 9:00 PM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight to seventeen inches of snow fell across Cape Cod.

Blizzard, Western Middlesex

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 6:05 AM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA (KBED) for a total of four and a half hours. End time of this event was estimated due to the loss of wind sensors at almost all ASOS stations in eastern MA. Prior to the loss of wind data, the highest wind gust observed was 75mph. No damage was reported.

Blizzard, Eastern Essex

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Essex forecast zone
Property damage
$56,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Beverly Municipal Airport (KBVY) for two to three hours prior to the most intense part of the storm. Wind sensors were lost during the height of the storm, making verification difficult. Times are estimated based on surrounding stations and radar data. Wires were downed in Manchester-by-the-Sea. The highest wind gust observed was 71 mph at the Weatherflow recording site at Dog Bar Breakwater.

Blizzard, Western Norfolk

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 2:37 AM EST
Where
Western Norfolk forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Norwood Memorial Airport (KOWD) for a total of seven and a half hours.

Blizzard, Southeast Middlesex

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 6:45 AM EST
Where
Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across southeastern Middlesex County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones. All times are estimated.

Blizzard, Suffolk

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 7:30 AM EST
Where
Suffolk forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Logan International Airport in Boston, MA (KBOS) for four hours. End time of this event was estimated due to the loss of wind sensors at almost all ASOS stations in eastern MA. The highest wind gust observed before the loss of the wind sensor was 66 mph at Logan Airport.

Blizzard, Northern Bristol

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 3:30 AM EST
Where
Northern Bristol forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Taunton Municipal Airport (KTAN) for three and a half hours. End time of this event was estimated due to the loss of wind sensors at almost all ASOS stations in eastern MA.

Blizzard, Southern Plymouth

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:30 AM EST
Where
Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across southern Plymouth County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones. All times are estimated. A tree was downed into a utility pole on Mattapoisett Neck Road in Mattapoisett.

Heavy Snow, Dukes

When
February 8, 6:00 PM EST to February 9, 11:00 PM EST
Where
Dukes forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eleven to twelve inches of snow fell across Martha's Vineyard.

Blizzard, Eastern Norfolk

When
February 8, 6:40 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage
$8,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across eastern Norfolk County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones and based on wind speeds observed by the Automated Surface Observing System at Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA (KMQE). All times are estimated. The highest wind gust was 66 mph at Blue Hill Observatory.

Blizzard, Western Essex

When
February 8, 7:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Western Essex forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across western Essex County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones. All times are estimated.

Blizzard, Western Plymouth

When
February 8, 7:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Western Plymouth forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across western Plymouth County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones. All times are estimated. The highest wind gust was 68 mph and was reported by an amateur radio operator on their home weather station in Scituate. A tree was downed onto a snowmobile in Hanover. The snowmobile driver was not injured. Several trees and wires were downed in Halifax.

Blizzard, Barnstable

When
February 8, 7:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Weather Observation System at Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station in Falmouth, MA (KFMH) for four and a half hours. The strongest wind gust observed was 69 mph at a Weatherflow measuring site at Sagamore Beach. Amateur radio observers and a trained spotter recorded wind gusts between 72 and 83 mph on their home weather stations in Falmouth, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, and Mashpee. The Automated Surface Observing System at Chatham Municipal Airport (KCQX) recorded a wind gust of 61 mph.

Blizzard, Southern Worcester

When
February 8, 7:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Worcester forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Worcester Regional Airport (KORH) for a total of eight hours. The highest wind gust reported was 65 mph, in Milford.

High Wind, Dukes

When
February 8, 7:20 PM EST
Where
Dukes forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing System at Martha's Vineyard Airport in Vineyard Haven, MA (KMVY) recorded a wind gust of 60 mph. No damage was reported.

Blizzard, Eastern Plymouth

When
February 8, 8:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Plymouth forecast zone
Property damage
$345,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Near blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM) for two to three hours prior to the most intense part of the storm. Wind sensors were lost during the height of the storm, making verification difficult. Times are estimated based on surrounding stations and radar data. The highest wind gust observed was 68 mph recorded by an amateur radio operator on their home weather station.

Blizzard, Southern Bristol

When
February 8, 8:00 PM EST to February 9, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Southern Bristol forecast zone
Property damage
$245,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at New Bedford Regional Airport (KEWB) for a total of four and a half hours. End time of this event was estimated due to the loss of wind sensors at almost all ASOS stations in eastern MA. The highest wind gust recorded was 63 mph reported by an amateur radio operator on their home weather station in Fall River. Numerous trees and wires were downed in Dartmouth. Power lines were downed onto a house on Westland Street in New Bedford. A power pole was downed onto a generator and a camper on Victoria Street in Dartmouth. A large tree limb and wires were downed onto a car on Rockland Street in New Bedford. A traffic light was downed into an intersection on Belleville Avenue and a building sign was blown down in New Bedford.

High Wind, Nantucket

When
February 8, 8:42 PM EST
Where
Nantucket forecast zone
Measured
60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$11,000
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing System at Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK) recorded a wind gust of 69 mph. The roof of the Our Island Home (a skilled nursing facility) was damaged.

Blizzard, Eastern Hampden

When
February 8, 10:00 PM EST to February 9, 3:30 AM EST
Where
Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observation System at Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield, MA (KBAF) for a total of three hours.

Heavy Snow, Nantucket

When
February 9, 4:00 AM EST to February 10, 4:00 AM EST
Where
Nantucket forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Six to seven inches of snow fell across Nantucket.

Coastal Flood, Eastern Essex

When
February 9, 8:33 AM EST to 4:45 PM EST
Where
Eastern Essex forecast zone
Property damage
$5.8 million
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Salisbury, coastal flooding resulted in structural damage to the ocean side of a building on North End Boulevard. This road was flooded from #170 to #250 resulting in the mandatory evacuation of about 50 houses. A barrier beach was breached and significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes and sand fencing. The south end of Atlantic Avenue was impassable with water flowing around and under buildings. In Gloucester, Atlantic Road was flooded and impassable. The Good Harbor Beach walkway bridge was damaged. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes. The Lane's Cove breakwater was damaged near Dudley Street. In Marblehead, the Marblehead Causeway (Ocean Avenue) and Marblehead Neck were flooded and impassable. In Manchester-by-the-Sea, a pier at Magnolia Beach was damaged. In Newbury, water flowed around and under buildings through the Beach Center parking lot and down a nearby street for about 200 yards. Five to ten houses on Annapolis Way, Dartmouth Way, and Southern Boulevard sustained damage to the foundations and stairs. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes and sand fencing. A building on Harvard Way sustained damage to the foundation and stairs. In Newburyport, significant beach erosion occurred. In Rockport, numerous streets were flooded and impassable. Water flowed around and under buildings at Front Beach and near Old Harbor. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes, sand fencing, stairs and railings. A boat ramp at Granite Pier was damaged. In Salem, debris, rocks, and sand were strewn across the parking lot and walkways at Winter Island Park.

Coastal Flood, Eastern Norfolk

When
February 9, 9:27 AM EST to 4:45 PM EST
Where
Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage
$500,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Cohasset, Atlantic Avenue, Oceanside Drive, and the causeway (Summit Avenue) at Jerusalem Road were flooded. Water one to two feet deep reached up to a couple of houses on Beach Street. In Hull, numerous streets were flooded and impassable. Gunrock Street and a street behind Stoney Beach were washed out. Water flowed around and under several buildings. At least one building sustained damage to the foundation and stairs. Streets and houses were flooded on Channel Street, Ocean Avenue, and Nantasket Avenue. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes.

High Wind, Barnstable

When
February 9, 9:32 AM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees and wires were downed onto Route 6A just east of that roads intersection with Route 132.

Coastal Flood, Eastern Plymouth

When
February 9, 9:43 AM EST to 2:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Plymouth forecast zone
Property damage
$9.2 million
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Plymouth, Warren Avenue was flooded near the entrance to the beach. A road near the north end of White Horse Beach was washed over with two feet of sand. A house on Taylor Avenue was completely destroyed with wreckage strewn for half a mile. Foundations and stairs of six to eight buildings were damaged. Significant beach erosion occurred with damage to dunes, sand fencing, and stairs. The Pilgrim Sands Motel was flooded with two feet of water in their basement. The Breakwater parking lot was undermined and eroded. In Scituate, numerous streets were flooded and impassable, with up to four feet of water. Moderate to major coastal flooding occurred with depths of water reaching up to 16.6 feet at one point. Water had flowed up to an apartment building on Cole Parkway. The Scituate light house was damaged. Water was flowing around and under houses near Edward Foster Road, Town Way Extension, and Oceanside Road. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes, sand fencing, and stairs. A house on Scituate Avenue was flooded. The foundation of two buildings were damaged, one at the intersection of Oceanside Road and Tuner Road and the other on Surfside Avenue. A large hole in Glades Road exposed buried utility lines. Ocean debris was found on Surfside Road. In Marshfield, numerous streets were flooded and impassable. Cars were stuck in flood waters on Plymouth Avenue. Water flowed around and under buildings throughout Marshfield. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging stairs. Brook Street was washed out. In Duxbury, significant beach erosion occurred, damaging stairs and dunes. Damage was sustained to the stairs of a building on Ocean Road North. Water flowed around and under buildings in the High Pines area. Water flowed through one house on Gurnet Road. In addition, stairs were damaged on about 15 buildings on Gurnet Road.

Coastal Flood, Suffolk

When
February 9, 9:45 AM EST to 3:30 PM EST
Where
Suffolk forecast zone
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Revere, Pines Road was inundated by ocean water. Winthrop Parkway experienced splashover with ocean debris in the road. In Winthrop, Shirley Street, Tafts Avenue, and Winthrop Shore Drive were flooded with up to two feet of water. Yirrell Beach at Mugford Street was flooded with water flowing around and under buildings.

Coastal Flood, Nantucket

When
February 9, 10:18 AM EST to 12:30 PM EST
Where
Nantucket forecast zone
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Easy and Washington Streets were flooded up to three feet deep. Water up to two feet deep came up to a couple of houses on Beach Street. Wauwinet Road near Eat Fire Springs Road flooded. Water was as far up as the Nantucket Hotel on Easton Street in the Brant Point area. Main Street was flooded up to the Club Car Restaurant. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging sand fencing.

Coastal Flood, Barnstable

When
February 9, 10:35 AM EST to 3:15 PM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Property damage
$5.3 million
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

In Sandwich, private and public access stairs leading to the beach were washed away. Water flowed around and under buildings, damaging at least four houses. One of the houses foundation was undermined and adjacent houses flooded. Several roads were flooded and impassable. The firehouse on Route 6A was flooded. Beach erosion occurred, damaging sand fencing, stairways, and walkways. In Dennis, Harbor Road was flooded up to two feet deep near Sesuit Harbor. Route 6A was flooded and impassable at the Dennis/Brewster line. A parking lot at Corporation Beach was undermined and had collapsed. Beach erosion occurred, damaging sand fencing. Dr Botero Road was flooded and had washed out in places. In Borne, significant beach erosion occurred, damaging stairs of four buildings. The town access ramp at Phillips Road was washed away. In Brewster, approximately 20 feet of the parking lot at Ellis landing was lost as the beach washed over the parking lot. A house adjacent to the parking lot sustained damage to the structure and foundation. Fifteen feet of parking lot at Breakwater Beach was lost. Significant beach erosion occurred, damaging dunes, sand fencing, and stairs. Approximately 10 feet of parking lot at Mants Landing was lost. In Chatham, significant beach erosion occurred, damaging sand fencing and stairs. Water flowed under and around buildings at the Fish Pier. Debris accumulated at the northern end of the pier. A seasonal cottage on North Beach Island lost its foundation support and stairs and was leaning on its side. It has been condemned and scheduled for demolition.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Heavy Snow, Southern Worcester2013-02-0960MaleOutside/Open AreasIndirect
Heavy Snow, Suffolk2013-02-1013MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerIndirect
Heavy Snow, Suffolk2013-02-10MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerIndirect

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Coastal Flood
Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, February 2013

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: 435856, 435855, 435854, 435859, 435860, 435861, 435862, 435870, 435863, 435864, 435872, 435844, 435871, 435838, 435841, 435857, 435858, 435865, 435866, 435874, 435876, 435867, 435799, 435801, 435802, 435803, 435804, 435806, 435815, 435868, 435805, 435800, 435807, 435809, 435812, 435826, 435813, 435814, 435827, 435819, and more.