Massachusetts, 2015

Winter Weather in Massachusetts, January 26 to 27, 2015

January 26 to 27, 2015 · NWS ALY · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A significant and powerful coastal storm impacted the Northeast states on Monday, January 26th through Tuesday, January 27th. Despite the impressive strength of this storm, it remained just far enough away from the region to avoid having a major impact on western Massachusetts.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 ALY wrote it up.

A significant and powerful coastal storm impacted the Northeast states on Monday, January 26th through Tuesday, January 27th. Despite the impressive strength of this storm, it remained just far enough away from the region to avoid having a major impact on western Massachusetts. While parts of Long Island, New York and eastern New England saw a major blizzard, much of the Berkshires only saw a moderate snowfall.

Light snowfall began during the afternoon hours on Monday, January 26th. Snowfall lifted from south to north across Berkshire County and accumulate an inch or two by evening.

During the overnight hours, a steady light snowfall occurred, especially in eastern parts of Berkshire. With snow being light in intensity, only a few inches accumulated by morning. With the forecast calling for a significant event, many school and businesses were closed for Tuesday, January 27th.

During the daytime on Tuesday, January 27th, a light to moderate snowfall built into the region from the east. Snowfall was even briefly heavy at times. Gusty winds allowed for blowing and drifting of snowfall as well. Although traffic was already light due to people avoiding the roadways due to the forecast, many accidents were reported across the region. Snowfall tapered off by the evening hours.

Snowfall amounts ranged from about 4 to 8 inches across the Berkshires, with the highest amounts in the higher elevations.

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 Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 25, 6:53 PM EST, 19 hours 7 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 25, 6:53 PM EST, 19 hours 7 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 25, 4:05 PM EST, 21 hours 55 minutes before
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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Weather, Southern Berkshire

When
January 26, 2:00 PM EST to January 27, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Berkshire forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Weather, Northern Berkshire

When
January 26, 3:00 PM EST to January 27, 10:00 PM EST
Where
Northern Berkshire forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Weather
Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, January 2015

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: 553842, 553841.