A storm system produced heavy snow, strong to damaging winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
A storm system produced heavy snow, strong to damaging winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast. Although it was not deep low pressure and although it passed just south of the 40N/70W benchmark, its precipitation shield was expansive because of a broad 700 mb low over southeast New England, abundant moisture, and a very cold air mass in place. By far, the heaviest snow fell to the north (Laconia, NH) and west (Binghamton, NY), where more than 3 feet fell. But amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches across much of southern New England. There was some minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide and also a flash freeze in eastern Massachusetts as the storm pulled away to the northeast.
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 16, 7:42 PM EST, 2 hours 18 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Snow ranged from 5.7 inches in Bristol to 7.8 inches in Barrington. Winds were generally gusting to 40 to 45 mph.
Snowfall ranged from 8.5 inches in West Warwick to 12 inches in Coventry. Winds were gusting to 40 to 45 mph.
Snowfall ranged from 7.5 to 11.9 inches in eastern Kent County. Some specific totals included 11.9 inches in West Warwick, 8.5 inches in East Greenwich. At T.F Green Airport in Warwick (KPVD) 7.9 inches of snow was measured and a wind gust to 44 mph was recorded on the ASOS at 12:51 PM EST on the 17th.
Snowfall generally ranged from 6 to 14.3 inches. Some specific amounts included 14.3 in Tiverton, 8.0 inches in Little Compton, 7.0 inches in Middletown, and 6.5 inches in Portsmouth. Wind were gusting to 40 to 45 mph. The ASOS at Newport Airport (KUUU) reported a gust to 43 mph at 3:53 PM EST.
Snowfall generally ranged from 8.4 to 14 inches. Some specific amounts included a public report of 14 inches in Glocester, a CoCoRaHS report of 13.0 inches in Burrillville, 11.1 inches in North Smithfield, and 9.6 inches in Woonsocket. Winds gusted to 40 to 45 mph.
Snowfall generally ranged from 6 to 12 inches. Some specific amounts included 12.0 inches in Cranston, 9.5 inches in Pawtucket, and 8.3 inches in Providence. Winds gusted to 40 to 45 mph.
Snow ranged from 5 to 10 inches in the eastern part of Washington County to 8 to 12 inches in the western part. Some of the higher totals included 11.9 inches in Charlestown, 11.5 in Richmond, 10 inches in Narragansett, 9.2 inches in North Kingstown. Winds gusted generally to 45 to 50 mph. The AWOS at the Quonset Airport (KOQU) recorded a gust to 49 mph at 1:50 PM EST on the 17th.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Rhode Island in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, December 2020
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: 927957, 927958, 927960, 927961, 927963, 927964, 927985.