In December, rainfall throughout much of northern Connecticut was near normal. Temperatures were above normal.
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.
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.
In December, rainfall throughout much of northern Connecticut was near normal. Temperatures were above normal. This hindered snowpack development, but also kept soils sufficiently thawed to allow some recharge to groundwater.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) continued a Drought Watch for Hartford and Tolland Counties in Northern Connecticut and a Drought Advisory for Windham County. Voluntary water conservation and adherence to any local water restrictions were encouraged. The DPH indicated the average percent of usable |storage within the State’s reservoirs was at 79.8 percent. This was below normal, but an improvement from December.
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 Dec 31, 9:58 PM EST, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Taunton MA
958 PM EST Sat Dec 31 2016
.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure moving across southern Ontario and Quebec will bring
some light rain for New Year's Eve, with wet snow to the higher
terrain of Massachusetts where a coating to 2 inches of snow
accumulation is possible. High pressure will build into the region
providing dry weather for the first day of 2017 and for much of
Monday. Broad low pressure west of the Great Lakes will spread
precipitation into Southern New England late Monday or Monday
night. Freezing rain and ice accretion is expected over the
interior Monday night and early Tuesday. Temperatures will rise
overnight changing all precipitation to rain by Tuesday morning.
High pressure will bring cooler drier weather for the latter part
of the week. A storm passing well offshore could bring light snow
to the South Coast Friday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/...
10 PM update...
Precipitation mostly in the form of rain has overspread the
region away from the south coast. Southerly low level jet has
warmed boundary layer with temps mid/upper 40s SE MA and southern
RI with mid 30s interior high terrain. Expect rain to change to
snow across higher terrain with increasing precip intensity as
temps aloft are cold, but mainly rain in the lower elevations. Hi-
res guidance indicates higher qpf values 0.10-0.20" will be across
central and eastern New Eng with lesser amounts further west. Snow
accum will be confined to higher terrain, mainly above 1000 ft,
with potential for a coating to 2 inches with highest amounts
likely confined to northern Worcester hills. Little or no accum
in the valleys and lower elevations where ptype will be mostly
rain.
Precip ending 06-09z from west to east but lingering a bit later
SE coastal MA and Cape/Islands.
Winds are gusting to 20-30 mph from CT valley to SE MA. Strongest
winds overnight will be focused across SE MA and Cape/islands as
the low level jet moves to SE New Eng. Given colder temps aloft
and sfc readings well into the 40s, there will be sufficient
mixing for some gusts to 40 mph.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...
Updated 4 pm...
Sunday...
Any lingering clouds at sunrise quickly move offshore and give way
to lots of sunshine. Post frontal airmass is not very cold with
highs tomorrow ranging from 40-45...mid to upper 30s high terrain.
Although a modest WNW wind up to 25 mph will provide a bit of a wind
chill. Still temps slightly above normal.
Sunday night...
Dry but chilly as high pres builds over the region promoting clear
skies...light winds and a dry airmass. Given this leaned toward the
colder MOS temps.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Big Picture...
Broad cyclonic flow over the Northern USA much of the time next
week. Closed low over Hudson Bay maintains this feature early week.
Another upper low that digs over the Pacific Northwest this weekend
will eject a shortwave Monday that races to the Great Lakes, then
turns north and kicks the closed low out of Hudsons Bay, only to
merge with a polar shortwave to form a new closed low. Whew, that is
a lot of work to maintain status quo. Meanwhile, the remnants of
the Pac NW low will move across the nation midweek and reach the
Mid Atlantic coast next weekend.
A shortwave ridge builds along the East Coast Tuesday-Wednesday and
promotes brief above normal temps for New England. Otherwise
contours are near normal early week and a little below normal late
week, suggesting normal to seasonably cold temps early and late week.
Details...
Monday-Tuesday...
High pressure over the region Monday promotes a developing low level
southeast jet into the Mid Atlantic states, reaching 25-30 knots.
This will promote low level lift and moisture inflow to our south,
allowing clouds and developing precipitation...down there. The focus
will be around Delmarva and eventually New Jersey. Meanwhile, dry
weather for Southern New England with increasing mid and high clouds
during the day, perhaps some lower clouds to the South Coast and in
CT toward evening.
The low level jet shifts up the coast and over New England Monday
night with 25-30 knot southeast winds overlaying CT and Western MA.
This lift and moisture supports developing pcpn over most of our
area during this time. P-type continues to be an issue with 20-25
knot ageostropic wind forecast at low levels over Western and
Central MA and into Northern CT. The models jump on this with below-
freezing low level temps over Western and Central MA and possibly
parts of Northern CT through at least midnight...and the GFS/ECMWF
hold onto this in NW Mass through 09z Tuesday morning. Based in this
initial temp profile, we continue to see potential for an initial
period of freezing rain and possible sleet inland while the coastal
plain starts as rain. Warmer air will slowly work northward,
changing the freezing rain to rain either later Monday night or
Tuesday morning. QPF looks light for much of this period...potential
for a couple of hundredths, with possible one-tenth inch in NW Mass.
Low level southeast flow continues and increases during Tuesday with
the low level jet expected to reach 50-60 knots as it moves across
SE New England. In addition to the rain, expect gusty winds with
any heavier embedded showers. While probably not reaching 50 knots,
gusts may 30-35 knots especially over Cape Cod and Islands.
Precipitable water values continue to build to 1.2 to 1.4 inches on
Tuesday which is about as high as it gets this time of year and well
above the 90 percent exceedance level. This suggests a soaking
rain on Tuesday with amounts near an inch if not a little higher.
Rain will taper off Tuesday night as the surface system moves off
through the Gulf of Maine.
Wednesday...
Upper low over Canada moves east and pushes a secondary cold front
through the region. Limited moisture, but there is potential for
scattered rain/snow showers as the front moves through. Also
sufficient mixing potential for 30-35 knot gusts. Temps in the mixed
layer support max sfc temps in the upper 30s NW and 40s in general.
Thursday through Saturday...
High pressure builds fair weather over the region through the
period. West winds Thursday will continue to gust 20 to 25
knots.Lighter winds Friday. Temps in the mixed layer support max sfc
temps in the upper 20s and 30s. Dew points 15-25 Thursday morning
and in the teens afterward with fair skies and light winds suggest
min temps 20s Thursday morning, then teens inland and 20s coast
Friday and Saturday mornings.
Long range models have made changes on potential for stormy weather
at weeks end. Trailing cold front from midweek storm stalls off the
Carolinas. Pacific NW shortwave reaches the Mid Atlantic Coast by
Friday and generates one or more waves on the front. GFS keeps all
pcpn offshore while GGEM and ECMWF graze the South Coast. We will
bring slight chance pops up to the South Coast and Islands for
Friday.
&&
.AVIATION /03Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
Short Term /through Sunday Night/...
03z update...
Tonight...Expect periods of MVFR cigs/vsbys and brief IFR
possible in rain lower elevations and snow higher elevations in
central and western MA. A coating to 2 inches possible in the
higher terrain. Precip exits from west to east after 06z west and
after 09z east with conditions improving to VFR by daybreak.
Other issue tonight will be increasing SW winds along the south
coast of MA and RI including Cape Cod and Islands. SW wind gusts
to 30-35 kt likely. Moderate forecast confidence.
Sunday...High confidence for VFR, dry weather and west winds
gusting to 25kt.
Sunday night...high confidence for VFR, dry weather along with
diminishing winds.
KBOS TAF...High confidence.
KBDL TAF...High confidence.
Outlook /Monday through Thursday/... Moderate Confidence.
Monday...
VFR during the day, lowering to MVFR Monday night and possibly IFR
in CT and along the South Coast late at night. Light pcpn is
possible Monday especially in CT, but best confidence is in it
holding off until night. Precipitation will start as rain along the
coast and freezing rain or sleet in the interior. Milder air
will work north and west overnight. The precip will then change
to rain all areas by Tuesday morning.
Tuesday...
IFR or low-end MVFR in rain and fog. Rain may be heavy at times.
Rain tapers off Tuesday night as a weather system and cold front
move through. Low level south-southeast jet of 50 to 60 knots may
move up across Southeast MA creating a low level wind shear concern
ahead of the front, and may bring 30 knot gusts to the surface.
Winds shift out of the west after the storm passes Tuesday night.
Wednesday... VFR. Another cold front passes during the afternoon
with widely scattered showers and brief MVFR cigs/vsbys. Afternoon
winds from the west will gust to 30 knots, then diminish in the
evening.
Thursday... VFR. Gusty west winds 20 to 25 knots.
&&
.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels.
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
Short Term /through Sunday Night/...High confidence.
Tonight...
SW gales develop this evening and then become westerly late and not
as strong. A period of rain will lower vsby at times.
Sunday...
Dry weather and good vsby with WNW winds 15 to 20 kt gusting up to
25 kt.
Sunday night...
Dry weather with diminishing winds as high pres builds across the
area. Seas subside as well.
Outlook /Monday through Thursday/...Moderate confidence.
Monday-Tuesday...
Winds increase from the east on Monday, then from the southeast
Monday night and Tuesday. Winds will be below 25 knots Monday, but
increase to 25-30 knots Monday night and Tuesday. Low risk for gusts
to 35 knots Tuesday. Seas below 5 feet Monday will build to 5 to 10
feet on the exposed waters during Tuesday. Visibility will be poor
in rain and fog late Monday night and Tuesday. A cold front moves
through on Tuesday night, bringing a wind shift from the west with
improving conditions and leftover 25 knot gusts on the outer waters.
Wednesday-Thursday...
West winds will gust 25 to 30 knots. Seas will linger at 5 to 9 feet
on exposed waters.
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...None.
RI...None.
MARINE...Gale Warning until 6 AM EST Sunday for ANZ231>237-250-251-
254>256.
Small Craft Advisory until 5 PM EST Sunday for ANZ230.
&&
SYNOPSIS...WTB/Nocera
NEAR TERM...KJC
SHORT TERM...Nocera
LONG TERM...WTB
AVIATION...KJC/WTB/Nocera
MARINE...WTB/NoceraHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-RIZ001>008-012115- 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-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...ALL OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT BERKSHIRE COUNTY...AND RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY FOR LIGHT ICING MAY BE NEEDED FOR INLAND PORTIONS OF THE AREA LATE MONDAY INTO EARLY TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ236-250-254-255-012115- NARRAGANSETT BAY- 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- COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET- 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST SUNDAY... 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...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ235-237-256-012115- RHODE ISLAND SOUND-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO 20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND- 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR 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...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ231>234-251-012115- CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-BUZZARDS BAY- MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST SUNDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS 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...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ230-012115- BOSTON HARBOR- 414 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. 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
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Taunton MA 931 PM EST Sat Dec 31 2016 CTZ003-004-MAZ002>004-008>012-026-010800- Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA-Eastern Franklin MA- Northern Worcester MA-Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA- Eastern Hampshire MA-Eastern Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA- Northern Middlesex MA- Including the cities of...Union...Vernon...Putnam...Willimantic... Charlemont...Greenfield...Orange...Barre...Fitchburg... Chesterfield...Blandford...Amherst...Northampton...Springfield... Milford...Worcester...Ayer 931 PM EST Sat Dec 31 2016 ...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS FROM A COATING TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGH TERRAIN THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING... RAIN...MIXED WITH SNOW OVER HIGHER ELEVATIONS HAS OVERSPREAD THE REGION THIS EVENING. THE PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO SNOW OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WITH MOSTLY RAIN IN THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE A COATING TO 2 INCHES WITH THE GREATEST RISK AT ELEVATIONS OF 1000 FT AND HIGHER ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS. THIS INCLUDES THE WORCESTER HILLS. A SLUSHY COATING TO AN INCH IS POSSIBLE FARTHER SOUTH INTO THE HIGH TERRAIN OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. MOTORISTS TRAVELING ACROSS THE HIGH TERRAIN TONIGHT....INCLUDING THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE AND ROUTE 2 CORRIDOR...BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND SLIPPERY TRAVEL. SNOW WILL TAPER OFF BETWEEN 1 AM AND 4 AM OVERNIGHT.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1013 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1012 PM SNOW WORTHINGTON 42.42N 72.93W
12/31/2016 M1.2 INCH HAMPSHIRE MA CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
KJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1015 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1012 PM SNOW WORTHINGTON 42.42N 72.93W
12/31/2016 M1.3 INCH HAMPSHIRE MA CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
CORRECTED EVENT
KJCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1043 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1010 PM SNOW HUBBARDSTON 42.48N 72.02W
12/31/2016 M1.5 INCH WORCESTER MA PUBLIC
1012 PM SNOW WORTHINGTON 42.42N 72.93W
12/31/2016 M1.3 INCH HAMPSHIRE MA CO-OP OBSERVER
&&
EVTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1140 PM EST SAT DEC 31 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1137 PM SNOW GARDNER 42.58N 71.99W
12/31/2016 M1.5 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
KJC/EVTThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 drought. Local standard time, as filed.
The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Extreme Drought (D3) designation for Hartford County through the month of January.
The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation for most of Tolland County through the month of January. In the far northwest part of the county, an Extreme Drought designation continued through the month.
The U.S. Drought Monitor continued the Severe Drought (D2) designation for extreme western Windham County through the month of January.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Connecticut in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, January 2017
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: 672786, 672788, 672789.