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.
Every event with a place to put it; 12 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.
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! 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. 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.
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.| |Minor tidal flooding occurred along the south coasts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island during times of high tide Friday night and Saturday morning.
The Providence Journal reported that almost 170 people sought treatment for storm-related heart attacks, falls, and other injuries related to the storm at Lifespan network hospitals (which includes 4 major Rhode Island hospitals). In addition 10 people were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning. No further information was available.
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, 7:10 AM EST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
710 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/...
700 AM UPDATE...NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE FORECAST THIS
MORNING. SLOWED DOWN THE ARRIVAL OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION THIS
MORNING. ALREADY SEEING REPORTS OF FLURRIES ACROSS PORTIONS OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. ALSO ADJUSTED TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS
TO BETTER REFLECT OBSERVED TRENDS.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
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 /12Z 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...EXPECTING MVFR CIGS ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHERN
NEW ENGLAND THIS MORNING. CONDITIONS WILL LOWER ACROSS THE AREA
THROUGH MID MORNING AS LIGHT SNOW MOVES INTO THE AREA AND REDUCES
VISIBILITY.
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 TRENDS. MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN
EXACT TIMING.
KBDL TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TAF TRENDS. MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN
EXACT TIMING.
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...BELK/RLG
NEAR TERM...BELK/RLG
SHORT TERM...BELK/RLG
LONG TERM...BELK
AVIATION...BELK/RLG
MARINE...BELK/RLG/THOMPSON
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 MAZ002>004-008>011-026-NHZ011-015-091030- 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- WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHWESTERN 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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-NHZ012-RIZ001>008- 091030- 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-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI- EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT... CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...AND 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. BLIZZARD WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. MAZ007-015-016-019-022-023-091030- EASTERN ESSEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA- BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST SATURDAY... ...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN 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. BLIZZARD WARNING. COASTAL FLOOD WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. MAZ024-091030- NANTUCKET MA- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY... ...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NANTUCKET. .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. HIGH WIND WARNING. WINTER STORM WARNING. COASTAL FLOOD WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. ANZ255-256-091030- 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- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM EST SATURDAY... 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. HURRICANE FORCE WIND WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. ANZ250-254-091030- 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- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 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...TODAY AND TONIGHT. 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. ANZ230-251-091030- BOSTON HARBOR-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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>237-091030- CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-BUZZARDS BAY- RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- 523 AM EST FRI FEB 8 2013 ...STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 7 PM EST SATURDAY... 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. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. 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. RLG
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 heavy snow, 4 blizzard, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Nineteen to twenty inches of snow fell across Washington County.
Twenty-one to twenty-eight inches of snow fell across northwestern Providence County.
Nineteen to twenty-one inches of snow fell across western Kent County.
Seventeen to twenty-one inches of snow fell across southeastern Providence County. A Rhode Island man died from a heart attack while shoveling snow from the blizzard. No further details were available, including what city or town the man was from.
Eighteen to twenty-two inches of snow fell across eastern Kent County.
Thirteen to sixteen inches of snow fell across Newport County.
Blizzard conditions were inferred to have occurred across Bristol County on the basis that blizzard conditions were observed in all surrounding zones. All times are estimated.
Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at Newport State Airport (KUUU) for a total of three and a half hours. The highest wind gust observed was 68 mph recorded by an amateur radio operator on their home weather station in Jamestown.
Blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Weather Observation System at North Central State Airport in Smithfield, MA (KSFZ) for a total of five and a half hours.
Near blizzard conditions were observed on the Automated Surface Observing System at TF Green State Airport (KPVD) 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 54 mph at a Weatherflow reporting site at Providence Harbor.
The Automated Surface Observing System at TF Green State Airport in Warwick, RI (KPVD) recorded a wind gust of 63 mph. No damage was reported.
The Weatherflow reporting site at Quonset Point reported wind gusts up to 63 mph. No damage was reported.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Snow, Southeast Providence | 2013-02-11 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Rhode Island in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, February 2013
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: 435892, 435884, 435890, 435889, 435891, 435893, 435816, 435817, 435810, 435811, 435830, 435822.