Low pressure passed south of New England bringing snow and gusty winds to much of Southern New England. Up to a foot and a half of snow fell on much of eastern Massachusetts.
Every event with a place to put it; 23 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.
Low pressure passed south of New England bringing snow and gusty winds to much of Southern New England. Up to a foot and a half of snow fell on much of eastern Massachusetts. This came just one week after a blizzard (January 27) brought over two feet of snow to the same area. This set a 7 day record snowfall (40.2 inches) in the city of Boston.
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 2, 12:59 AM EST, 1 hour 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1259 AM EST MON FEB 2 2015
.SYNOPSIS...
A MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE REGION TONIGHT INTO MONDAY
EVENING WITH HEAVY SNOW FOR MANY LOCATIONS. BITTERLY COLD WIND
CHILLS FOLLOW LATER MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. A COLD
FRONT SWINGS THROUGH NEW ENGLAND WEDNESDAY NIGHT BUT MAY LINGER
CLOSE ENOUGH TO AFFECT THE COAST ON THURSDAY. HIGH PRESSURE BRINGS
ANOTHER DOSE OF VERY COLD AIR STARTING THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER
COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH ON SATURDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
1 AM UPDATE...
RADAR SHOWS LIGHT SNOW OVERSPREADING MUCH OF SNE BUT INITIAL LOW
LEVEL DRY AIR EATING AWAY AT THE SNOW. LEADING EDGE OF SNOW IS IN
THE CT VALLEY AND WILL WILL REACH EASTERN MA 2-3 AM AS ATMOS
MOISTENS FROM TOP DOWN. NO CHANGES TO CURRENT FORECAST.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...
SNOW WILL BE LIGHT INITIALLY BUT WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES
09-12Z. IN FACT THERE IS A PRETTY STRONG SIGNAL FOR A PERIOD OF
HEAVY SNOW LIFTING N FROM CT/RI AND SE MA AROUND 12Z BEFORE ANY
CHANGEOVER. INTENSE 850 MB FRONTOGENESIS ASSOCD WITH OVERRUNNING
OF A VERY TIGHT THERMAL GRADIENT WITH -EPV AND FAIRLY STEEP MID
LEVEL LAPSE RATES. COULD SEE SNOWFALL RATES 2-3"/HOUR WITH ISOLD
THUNDER SNOW.
THE BIG CHALLENGE IS TIMING OF THE CHANGEOVER MON MORNING AS WARM
AIR SURGES N AND HOW THIS AFFECTS SNOW ACCUM. SOME OF THE
GUIDANCE IS PRETTY QUICK WITH CHANGEOVER 13-15Z ACROSS CT/RI AND
SE MA BUT COULD SEE A DECENT FRONT END THUMP BEFORE THIS. NO
CHANGES TO CURRENT ACCUM RIGHT NOW. WILL REEVALUATE WITH 00Z
MODEL SUITE BUT MAY NEED TO LOWER A BIT NEAR THE SOUTH COAST.
&&
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH 6 PM TUESDAY/...
HIGHLIGHTS...
* MAJOR WINTER STORM VERY LATE TONIGHT INTO MON EVENING
* HEAVY SNOWFALL EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE REGION ESP DURING THE
MORNING HOURS
* STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY FOR SNOWFALL AMTS ACROSS RI AND SE MA DUE
TO PTYPE ISSUES
OVERVIEW...
OPEN WAVE BRINGING SNOW OVER CHICAGO AND REST OF THE MIDWEST WILL
MAKE ITS WAY EASTWARD THROUGH THE DAY AND BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED
TOMORROW AFTERNOON. THIS WAVE WILL EVENTUALLY CUT-OFF AT 700MB BUT
LOOKS AS IF THAT WILL OCCUR ONCE IT MOVES UP TO THE MARITIMES
ALLOWING FOR US TO MISS SOME OF THE BACK-EDGE WRAP AROUND BANDING BY
MONDAY NIGHT.
AT THE SURFACE...LOW PRESSURE WILL TRACK ACROSS THE LOWER GREAT
LAKES AND PASS ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND OVER NANTUCKET TOMORROW. WITH
ARCTIC HIGH IN PLACE TO THE NORTH...PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL COLD AIR IN
PLACE BUT WARMING ALOFT WILL MAKE FOR A TRICKY SNOWFALL FORECAST
NEAR THE S COAST. OVERALL 12Z MODEL TREND IS TO CONTINUE TO NUDGE
THE LOW A LITTLE FARTHER NORTH BRINGING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A 2-4C
WARM LAYER OVER SOUTHEAST MASS AND INTO SOUTHERN RI. THE 18Z NAM IS
JUST SLIGHTLY COOLER THAT THE REST OF THE ENVELOPE WITH THE 12Z GFS
BEING THE WARMEST. TRENDED THE THICKNESSES WITH A BLEND OF THE
EC/GFS/NAM WHICH PUT THE FORECAST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GUIDANCE
SUITE. THE OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THE SYSTEM IS SPEEDING UP JUST
SLIGHTLY...SO HAVE MOVED PRECIP ONSET TIME ACCORDINGLY. THIS IS
TYPICAL IN THESE OVERRUNNING PRECIP SET-UPS. OVERALL NOT TO MANY
CHANGES FROM PREV FORECASTER...JUST NUDGE EVERYTHING NORTHWARD
SLIGHTLY AND CONVERTED MARINE HEADLINES TO WARNINGS.
1) TIMING AND PTYPE
SNOW WILL BEGIN TO OVERSPREAD INTO CT AND WESTERN MASS BETWEEN 10 PM
AND 1 AM THEN ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BY 4 AM.
AT THE ONSET...GUIDANCE SHOWS VERY GOOD LIFT WITHIN THE SNOW GROWTH
REGION AND WITH NEGATIVE EPV AND DESCENT F-GEN LOOKS LIKE A GOOD
THUMP OF SNOW WILL OCCUR. IN FACT SREF GUIDANCE IS HINTING AT
SNOWFALL RATES 2 INCHES PER HOUR. BELIEVE THIS COULD BE TRUE THANKS
TO THE INCREDIBLE THERMAL PACKING. THESE HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL
LAST FOR SEVERAL HOURS SO WE COULD SEE A QUICK 6 INCHES WITHIN 3 TO
4 HOURS. THIS WILL UNFORTUNATELY OCCUR BEFORE AND DURING THE MORNING
COMMUTE DROPPING VSBYS AND MAKING ROADS VERY TREACHEROUS FOR
COMMUTERS AS PLOWS COULD STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP.
WARM AIR WILL BEGIN TO WORK ITS WAY INTO SOUTHEAST MASS DURING THE
MID-MORNING HOURS. EXPECT A MIXTURE OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN
MAKING ITS WAY UP TO IJD TO PLY AND POINTS SOUTHWARD. IN FACT THERE
COULD BE A PERIOD WHERE MOST OF THE CAPE IS ALL RAIN FOR A SHORT
TIME. HAVE A LOWER CONFIDENCE IF RAIN WILL WORK UP TO THE SOUTHEAST
COASTAL PLAIN DUE TO THE LARGE SNOWPACK ON THE GROUND...BUT IT IS
CERTAINLY POSSIBLE ESP IF MODELS CONTINUE TO NUDGE THE SYSTEM
NORTHWARD.
BY LATE AFTERNOON...THE MIXING POTENTIAL BEGINS TO COLLAPSE AS LOW
BEGINS TO RETREAT NORTHEASTWARD AND CAA RUSHES INTO SNE. EXPECT THE
REGION TO TURN TO ALL SNOW BY 3-5 PM. THIS COULD ALSO MAKE THE
EVENING COMMUTE A TAD TRICKY AS SNOW MAY LIMIT VSBYS FOR A TIME.
SNOWFALL RATE WILL BE LESS THAN WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING FOR THE
MORNING...YET COULD STILL SEE ANOTHER INCH OR 2 DURING THIS TIME.
THIS IS STILL A VERY TRICKY PTYPE FORECAST DUE TO THE STRONG TEMP
GRADIENT SO ANY SHIFT IN THE TRACK COULD ADD OR SUBTRACT JUST A FEW
INCHES.
2) SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS AND HEADLINES
KEPT WITH THE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES FOR NOW WITH THIS PACKAGE AS
DID NOT SEE A REASON TO ADJUST EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST SNOWFLAKE
BEGINS TO FALL. HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT 10-14 INCHES OF SNOW WILL
OCCUR NORTH OF THE MASS PIKE WHERE PRECIP TYPE WILL REMAIN AS ALL
SNOW. LOWER CONFIDENCE ACROSS RI AND SOUTHEAST MASS WHERE P-TYPE
ISSUES WILL OCCUR...BUT GENERALLY THINK 6-10 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE.
ACROSS THE CAPE COULD SEE AMOUNTS JUST SHY OF 6 INCHES BUT WITH THE
ONSET OF HEAVY SNOW IN THE MORNING BELIEVE THE WARNING IS STILL
JUSTIFY. HAVE THE LOWEST CONFIDENCE FOR THE ISLANDS ESP ACROSS ACK
WHERE PERHAPS JUST 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET MAY OCCUR. JUST
REMEMBER...THAT THE SLIGHTEST SHIFT IN THE TRACK OR IF SURFACE TEMPS
ARE JUST A HAIR OFF...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS CAN CHANGE A COUPLE OF
INCHES.
3) STRONG WINDS AND BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW
NORTHEAST WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH EXPECTED ALONG THE IMMEDIATE
EASTERN MASS COAST ON MONDAY AS STORM INTENSIFIES AND PRESSURE
GRADIENT INCREASES. THIS WILL RESULT IN POOR VISIBILITY ALONG WITH
BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. ITS POSSIBLE THAT A FEW LOCATIONS ALONG
THE COAST COULD SEE NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FOR A VERY SHORT
TIME...BUT STORM DOESN/T SEEM TO WARRANT THOSE TYPE OF HEADLINES.
EVERYWHERE ELSE SHOULD SEE GENERALLY 15-25 MPH.
4) TEMPERATURES
A VERY STRONG COASTAL FRONT WILL SET UP ON MONDAY WITH TEMPS IN THE
TEENS NORTH OF I-84 TO I-90 CORRIDOR AND WEST OF I-495...WHILE TEMPS
WILL REACH THE LOWER TO MID 30S SE MA. THESE COOLER TEMPS WILL
CREATE A MORE FLUFFY SNOW FACTOR WHERE AS CLOSER TO THE COASTAL
FRONT WE COULD SEE A HEAVY WET SNOW.
A FLASH FREEZE IS LIKELY ACROSS SE COASTAL MA AND CAPE/ISLANDS IN
THE EVENING AS THE COASTAL FRONT MOVES THROUGH AND TEMPS PLUMMET
FROM THE 30S DOWN TO TEENS IN THE MATTER OF JUST 2-3 HOURS. THIS
WILL ICE UP ANY WET SURFACE OUTDOORS. MOTORIST AND PEDESTRIANS WILL
NEED TO USE CAUTION.
MONDAY NIGHT...
SYSTEM WILL EXIT OUT OF THE REGION ON MONDAY NIGHT BRINGING IN VERY
FRIGID AIR. IN FACT WITH WINDS DECOUPLING...SKIES CLEARING AND A
FRESH SNOWPACK ON THE GROUND WE COULD SEE TEMPS DROP WELL BELOW ZERO
IN MANY LOCATIONS BY EARLY TUE MORNING. THIS WILL RESULT IN WIND
CHILLS VALUES BETWEEN 15 AND 25 BELOW ZERO. WIND CHILL ADVISORIES
WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
BIG PICTURE...
CONTOUR FIELDS TUESDAY SHOW A FLAT FLOW ACROSS THE EASTERN USA
WITH NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN JET STREAMS. THE NEXT SIGNIFICANT
SYSTEM GETS STITCHED TOGETHER FROM THREE PIECES: POLAR SHORTWAVE
DIVING SOUTH THROUGH WESTERN CANADA...PACIFIC SHORTWAVE MOVING
ASHORE IN BC MONDAY...AND REMNANTS OF BAJA UPPER LOW EJECTING
EAST LATE TUESDAY. ALL THREE PHASE OVER THE EASTERN USA WEDNESDAY-
THURSDAY WITH THE TROUGH AXIS CROSSING NEW ENGLAND THURSDAY NIGHT.
LATER...NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH SWEEPS ACROSS EASTERN CANADA OVER
THE WEEKEND. TRAILING TROUGH DEVELOPS OFF THE ENTRANCE REGION OF
THE SUPPORTING JET AND APPROACHES SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE SUNDAY
NIGHT.
NORMAL CONTOUR HEIGHTS FOR JAN-FEB PERIOD ARE 5400-5450 METERS.
FORECAST CONTOUR HEIGHTS ARE NORMAL TO SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN NORMAL
MOST OF THE PERIOD...EXCEPT MUCH COLDER THAN NORMAL THURSDAY
NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT.
GOOD AGREEMENT AMONG THE MODELS THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY. PAST THAT
THERE IS AGREEMENT ON THE OVERALL PATTERN BUT DIFFERENCES IN THE
DETAILS. WE USED A BLEND OF THE DATA.
DAILIES...
TUESDAY... HIGH PRESSURE ALONG THE EAST COAST WILL PROVIDE A DRY
DAY. DIMINISHING NORTHWEST WINDS ALONG THE COAST WITH OVER-WATER
SPEEDS OF 12-16 KNOTS. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH AN AIR-WATER
TEMP DELTA OF 18-20C TO MAINTAIN OCEAN EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS JUST
OUTSIDE OF OUTER CAPE COD IN THE MORNING BUT WITH A DIMINISHING
TREND ALONG WITH THE WIND. TEMPS ALOFT WILL BE EQUIVILENT TO -20C
TO -24C...SUPPORTING CHILLY MAX SFC TEMPS IN THE MID TEENS TO LOWER
20S.
WEDNESDAY... AXIS OF HIGH PRESSURE SHIFT EAST EARLY WEDNESDAY
MORNING WITH INCREASING MOISTURE ALOFT BRINGING INCREASING CLOUDS.
COLD FRONT THEN MOVES EAST THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES WEDNESDAY AND
ACROSS NEW ENGLAND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. TWO JET STREAMS IN PLACE
WEDNESDAY ACTUALLY CLASH WEDNESDAY...LEFT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE
SOUTHERN JET AND RIGHT EXIT REGION OF THE NORTHERN JET...BUT MODELS
SHOW ENOUGH MOISTURE AND ISENTROPIC LIFT ESPECIALLY ACROSS
NORTHERN MASS TO EXPECT SOME SNOW WEDNESDAY MORNING FOLLOWED BY A
BREAK IN THE AFTERNOON AND THEN SNOW SHOWERS ALONG/AHEAD OF THE
COLD FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. COASTAL AREAS SUCH AS CAPE COD AND
ISLANDS COULD STAY WARM ENOUGH TO MIX WITH OR CHANGE TO RAIN.
THURSDAY...COLD FRONT MOVES OFFSHORE ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE UPPER
TROUGH PHASES AND DEEPENS. COASTAL NEW ENGLAND AND THE OFFSHORE
WATERS WILL BE UNDER THE LEFT EXIT REGION OF THE COMBINED UPPER JET.
THIS WOULD SUGGEST ONE OR MORE WAVES DEVELOPING ALONG THE COLD FRONT
AFTER IT MOVES OFFSHORE. THIS WOULD MAINTAIN A CHANCE OF SNOW IN RI
AND EASTERN MASS DURING THURSDAY. WE CONTINUED A CHANCE OF SNOW
SHOWERS IN THESE AREAS. GENERAL SNOW TAPERS OFF THURSDAY NIGHT AS
THE FRONT AND ITS WAVE MOVE FARTHER TO SEA. BUT COLD AIR IS DRAWN IN
WITH AIR-WATER DELTA OF 18-20C AND STRONG GUSTY NORTH-NORTHWEST
WINDS. SO EXPECT MORE OCEAN-EFFECT SNOW BANDS TO DEVELOP
OVERNIGHT...WITH A FETCH THAT FAVORS HITS ON THE MID AND OUTER CAPE.
THE GUSTY NORTH-NORTHWEST WIND WILL ALSO GENERATE SUB-ZERO WIND
CHILLS ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WITH CHILLS OF 10 TO 15
BELOW ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASS.
FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN ON FRIDAY WITH
CLEAR SKIES INLAND AND LINGERING OCEAN EFFECT SNOW OVER OR JUST EAST
OF OUTER CAPE COD. EASTERN CANADA UPPER TROUGH WILL DRIVE ANOTHER
COLD FRONT ACROSS NEW ENGLAND ON SATURDAY BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE OF
SNOW SHOWERS FOLLOWED BY COLD AIR. THIS FRONT STALLS SOUTH OF NEW
ENGLAND SUNDAY. ATTENTION THEN TURNS TO THE TROUGH THAT MAY DEVELOP
TO OUR SOUTHWEST OVER THE WEEKEND. IF IT DOES...IT IS POSITIONED
CORRECTLY TO FORM ANOTHER LOW ALONG THE STALLED FRONT. THAT LOW
WOULD THEN MOVE UP THE EAST COAST AT THE END OF OUR FORECAST PERIOD.
AS THIS COMES AT THE END OF DAY SEVEN...WE WILL KEEP POPS JUST TO
OUR SOUTH AND ALLOW THE MODEL SOLUTIONS TO MATURE.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS...
LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT.
MODERATE...30 TO 60 PERCENT.
HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT.
SHORT TERM.../THROUGH TONIGHT/...HIGH CONFIDENCE IN TRENDS BUT
LOWER CONFIDENCE IN TIMING.
LIGHT SNOW HAS DEVELOPED CT VALLEY AND WILL REACH E MA 07-08Z.
INITIALLY MVFR CONDITIONS BUT THIS WILL DETERIORATE RAPIDLY TO
IFR/LIFR 1-2 HOURS AFTER SNOW BEGINS. A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW WILL BE
LIFTING N ACROSS SNE 10-15Z WITH SNOWFALL RATES UP TO 2 INCHES
PER HOUR AND POSSIBLY AS HIGH AS 3 INCHES PER HOUR WITH ISOLD
THUNDER SNOW.
SNOW WILL CHANGE TO SLEET/FREEZING RAIN AND RAIN ALONG THE S
COAST 13-15Z WITH A POSSIBLE MIX OR VERY BRIEF CHANGEOVER TO
SLEET AS FAR N AS THE MASS PIKE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SNOW LINE
COLLAPSES BACK TOWARD THE S COAST 21-00Z. NE WIND GUSTS TO 30-35
KT DEVELOPING ACROSS E COASTAL MA MONDAY.
HIGH CONFIDENCE IN PLOWABLE SNOW ACROSS ALL AIRPORTS NORTH AND
WEST OF THE CANAL.
TONIGHT...LINGERING MVFR/IFR LIGHT SNOW IN THE EVENING ESPECIALLY
EAST...THEN IMPROVING TO VFR WITH CLEARING SKIES FROM WEST TO EAST
AFTER MIDNIGHT. GUSTY NW WINDS 25-30 KT E NEW ENG.
KBOS TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE OVERALL. LOWER CONFIDENCE IN EXACT
TIMING OF HEAVY SNOW.
KBDL TAF...HIGH CONFIDENCE OVERALL. LOWER CONFIDENCE IN EXACT
TIMING OF HEAVY SNOW.
OUTLOOK /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
TUESDAY...MODERATE CONFIDENCE... VFR. NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 20
KNOTS IN THE MORNING DIMINISHING IN THE AFTERNOON.
WEDNESDAY...LOW CONFIDENCE... MVFR OR BRIEF IFR IN SNOW SHOWERS.
BEST CHANCE IS ACROSS NORTHERN MASS.
THURSDAY...LOW CONFIDENCE... VFR WESTERN MASS AND CONNECTICUT. MVFR
OR BRIEF IFR IN LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS FOR EASTERN MASS AND RI.
FRIDAY...MODERATE CONFIDENCE... VFR.
&&
.MARINE...
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS...
LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT.
MODERATE...30 TO 60 PERCENT.
HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT.
SHORT TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/...HIGH CONFIDENCE.
TONIGHT INTO MONDAY...MODERATE TO HIGH CONFIDENCE.
WINDS/SEAS WILL BE QUIET TONIGHT BUT RAMP UP TOMORROW AS LOW
PRESSURE INTENSIFIES NEAR THE SOUTH COAST. GALE WARNINGS HAVE BEEN
ISSUES FOR GALES IN THE MORNING AND IN THE EVENING. THE MAIN FOCUS
FOR GUSTS TO 40 KTS WILL BE ACROSS EASTERN MA COASTAL
WATERS...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF CAPE COD...WITH LIGHTER WINDS OVER
THE SOUTH COASTAL WATER. SEAS BUILD TO 15+ FEET ACROSS OUR EASTERN
WATERS BY LATE MON AFTERNOON/EVENING.
VERY COLD AIR MASS WILL DROP OVER THE WATERS MONDAY NIGHT AND WITH
CHOPPY SEAS AND WINDS STILL GUSTING FREEZING SPRAY IS DEF
POSSIBLE. THEREFOR HAVE ISSUED A FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FOR ALL OF
THE WATERS NOT INCLUDING BOSTON HARBOR AND NARRAGANSETT BAY.
OUTLOOK...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...LOW-MODERATE CONFIDENCE.
TUESDAY... NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING TO 30 KNOTS MORNING...DIMINISHING
BY AFTERNOON. SEAS START AT 5-9 FEET AND SHOULD SUBSIDE IN THE
AFTERNOON. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY IN THE MORNING WILL DIMINISH AS THE
WINDS ALSO DIMINISH. SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS EAST OF THE OUTER CAPE
IN THE MORNING WILL MOVE OUT TO SEA BY AFTERNOON.
WEDNESDAY...LOW PRESSURE AND COLD FRONT RACE EAST FROM THE GREAT
LAKES. EXPECT LESS WIND BUT ALSO REDUCED VSBYS IN SNOW OR RAIN
SHOWERS MOSTLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND AT NIGHT. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO
NORTHWEST LATE AT NIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. SEAS START
THE DAY BELOW 5 FEET BUT THEN INCREASE TO 5-8 FEET ON THE OUTER
WATERS AND ON RI SOUND BY NIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE
NEEDED.
THURSDAY...COLD FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE WATERS AS WINDS INCREASE
FROM THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST. COLD AIR MOVES IN BEHIND THE FRONT AND
MAY GENERATE FREEZING SPRAY BY THURSDAY EVENING AND THURSDAY NIGHT.
LOW PRESSURE MAY DEVELOP ALONG THE DEPARTING FRONT AND PASS EAST OF
THE WATERS...BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO BRING RAIN AND SNOW...AND INCREASE
THE WIND TO 25-30 KNOTS. SEAS OF 5 TO 8 FEET WILL SUBSIDE THURSDAY
NIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.
FRIDAY... NORTH WINDS REACHING 30 KNOTS WILL DIMINISH AT NIGHT. SEAS
SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 5 FEET. OCEAN EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS WILL BRING
AREAS OF LOWER VSBYS ON THE WATERS EAST OF MASSACHUSETTS. A SMALL
CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
*** POCKETS OF MINOR COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE DURING THE LATE
MONDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE CYCLE ALONG BOSTON/S SOUTH SHORE BUT NO
MAJOR PROBLEMS EXPECTED***
SEAS WILL NOT REALLY BE RAMPED UP IN TIME FOR THE MID TO LATE MONDAY
MORNING HIGH TIDE ALONG THE EASTERN MA COAST. HOWEVER...THERE MAY
BE ENOUGH EAST TO NORTHEAST WIND TO RESULT IN A 1 TO 1.5 FOOT STORM
SURGE. ITS MARGINAL...BUT MAY SEE SOME POCKETS OF MINOR COASTAL
FLOODING MAINLY ACROSS BOSTON/S SOUTH SHORE. WHILE SIGNIFICANT
PROBLEMS ARE NOT EXPECTED...AREAS FROM HULL...TO SCITUATE...TO
MARSHFIELD AND DUXBURY WERE HIT VERY HARD FROM LAST WEEK/S BLIZZARD.
POCKETS OF MINOR COASTAL FLOODING MAY DELAY SOME OF THE CLEANUP AND
REPAIRS ON GOING IN THAT REGION...SO FELT IT WAS WORTH ISSUING AN
ADVISORY FOR THAT REGION.
THERE IS ANOTHER ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDE LATE MONDAY EVENING...BUT
ITS A FOOT LOWER AND BY THEN WINDS ARE ALREADY OFFSHORE.
THEREFORE...ITS REALLY JUST THE MONDAY MORNING HIGH TIDE THAT WERE
CONCERNED ABOUT AND ANY ISSUES FROM THAT WILL LIKELY BE VERY MINOR.
&&
.CLIMATE...
WITH EXTREMELY COLD AIR MOVING IN BEHIND THE DEPARTING LOW MONDAY
NIGHT...TEMPERATURES MAY FALL BACK CLOSE TO OR SURPASSING RECORD
LEVELS EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. EXPECTED HIGH TEMPS ON TUESDAY WILL
BE CHILLY AS WELL...BUT SHOULD STAY ABOVE THE RECORD COLDEST MAX
TEMPS FOR THE DATE.
HERE ARE THE RECORD LOWS FOR TUESDAY 2/3...
BOSTON -5 SET IN 1881
PROVIDENCE -6 SET IN 1961
WORCESTER -7 SET IN 1931, 1955 AND 1971
WINDSOR LOCKS -3 SET IN 1955
BLUE HILL OBS -7 SET IN 1955
HERE ARE THE RECORD LOW MAX TEMPS FOR TUESDAY 2/3...
BOSTON 14 SET IN 1917
PROVIDENCE 12 SET IN 1917
WORCESTER 8 SET IN 1955
WINDSOR LOCKS 12 SET IN 1917
BLUE HILL OBS 9 SET IN 1917
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR CTZ002>004.
MA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR MAZ023-024.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR MAZ002>022-026.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO NOON EST
TODAY FOR MAZ016-019-022.
RI...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR RIZ008.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR RIZ001>007.
MARINE...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM
EST TUESDAY FOR ANZ231>235-237-250-251-254>256.
GALE WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY FOR
ANZ231>235-237.
GALE WARNING FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY FOR
ANZ230-236.
GALE WARNING FROM 5 AM EARLY THIS MORNING TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY
FOR ANZ250-251-254>256.
&&
SYNOPSIS...WTB/DUNTEN
NEAR TERM...KJC
SHORT TERM...DUNTEN
LONG TERM...WTB
AVIATION...WTB/KJC
MARINE...WTB/DUNTEN
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
CLIMATE...HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>015-017-018-020-021-026-RIZ001>007-022145- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA- SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA- NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI- EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. ALSO...WIND CHILLS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING WILL BE BELOW ZERO. AREAS NEAR AND NORTH OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE MAY HAVE WIND CHILLS OF 15 BELOW ZERO OR COLDER. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MAZ023-024-RIZ008-022145- DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MAZ016-019-022-022145- EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY... ...COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM TO NOON EST MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. .DAY ONE...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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ250-251-254>256-022145- COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- 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- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING. NORTH WINDS MAY APPROACH GALE FORCE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ231>235-237-022145- CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-BUZZARDS BAY- RHODE ISLAND SOUND-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY... ...HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 7 AM EST TUESDAY... 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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. HEAVY FREEZING SPRAY WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ230-236-022145- BOSTON HARBOR-NARRAGANSETT BAY- 433 PM EST SUN FEB 1 2015 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM MONDAY TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY... 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...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. FOR THE LATEST UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSBOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT @NWSBOSTON
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
19 heavy snow, 4 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Ten to thirteen inches of snow fell across western Franklin County.
Six to twelve inches of snow fell across eastern Franklin County.
Six to fourteen inches of snow fell across eastern Hampden County.
Six to eight inches of snow fell across western Hampden County.
Ten to twelve inches of snow fell across western Hampshire County.
Five to fifteen inches of snow fell across eastern Hampshire County.
Seven to twenty inches of snow fell across northern Worcester County.
Five to seventeen inches of snow fell across southern Worcester County.
Seven to eleven inches of snow fell across northern Bristol County.
Two to six inches of snow fell across southern Bristol County.
Six to sixteen inches of snow fell across western Middlesex County.
Seven to seventeen inches of snow fell across southeastern Middlesex County.
Twelve to fifteen inches of snow fell across northwestern Middlesex County.
Six to fifteen inches of snow fell across western Norfolk County.
Ten to seventeen inches of snow fell across eastern Norfolk County. A 57 year old female was struck and killed by a snowplow in the parking lot of the Tara Gardens condominium complex. A 67 year old woman sustained non-life threatening injuries after she was struck by a plow truck in Cohasset.
Six to twelve inches of snow fell across interior Plymouth County.
Five to fourteen inches of snow fell across east coastal Plymouth County.
Fifteen to seventeen inches of snow fell across Suffolk County.
Two to four inches of snow fell across Cape Cod.
Three inches of snow fell on Martha's Vineyard.
Twelve to sixteen inches of snow fell across interior Essex County.
Eight to eighteen inches of snow fell across coastal Essex County.
Three to four inches of snow fell across south coastal Plymouth County.
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, Eastern Norfolk | 2015-02-02 | 57 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, February 2015
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: 560468, 560469, 560470, 560471, 560472, 560473, 560483, 560484, 560463, 560464, 560474, 560475, 560476, 560477, 560478, 560479, 560480, 560482, 560462, 560465, 560466, 560467, 560481.