Massachusetts, 2024

Winter Weather in Massachusetts, March 20, 2024

March 20, 2024 · NWS ALY · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A clipper system passing to the north of the region on March 20, 2024 lead to some upslope snow showers in western Massachusetts. Stronger forcing developed along the associated cold front as the system moved overhead, resulting in a couple of localized snow squalls.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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 clipper system passing to the north of the region on March 20, 2024 lead to some upslope snow showers in western Massachusetts. Stronger forcing developed along the associated cold front as the system moved overhead, resulting in a couple of localized snow squalls. Significantly low visibilities were reported as a result of these squalls with gusty winds and thunder.

Key Impacts: Travel delays.

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 Mar 20, 2:59 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 20, 2:59 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 20, 3:21 PM EST, 1 hour 29 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Mar 20, 3:59 PM EST, 51 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:09 PM EST, 41 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:11 PM EST, 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:25 PM EST, 25 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:37 PM EST, 13 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Mar 20, 4:45 PM EST, 5 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, Northern Berkshire

When
March 20, 4:50 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where
Northern Berkshire forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Snow Squall. Pittsfield ASOS measured visibilities of one quarter of a mile with a peak wind gust of 45 mph. The squall began around 550 pm EDT and ended around 615 pm EDT.

Winter Weather, Southern Berkshire

When
March 20, 5:15 PM EST to 5:30 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)

Snow Squall. Whiteout conditions were reported in East Otis within the snow squall along with thunder. The squall began around 615 pm EDT and ended around 630 pm EDT.

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 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, March 2024

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1167987, 1167986.