Heavy Snow — Northern Worcester, Massachusetts

2023-03-13 to 2023-03-15 · Northern Worcester, Massachusetts

Event narrative

Snowfall amounts varied widely from as high as 24 to 32 in the highest elevations to as little as 7 in the lower elevations. Specific amounts included 32.0 in Ashburnham, 31.5 in Royalston, 29.5 in Hubbardston, 29.3 in Princeton, 25.5 in Lunenburg, 24.0 in Gardner, 23.0 in Leominster, 19.0 in Phillpston, 17.2 in Barre, 7.2 in Warren. In Rutland at 356 am on the 14th, a tree was down on Brigham Rd. In Fitchburg at 415 am, multiple large trees were down on Kimball Rd, Lancaster Ave, and the Great Wolf Lodge Drive. Also in Fitchburg, at 1003 am, trees and limbs were down on Route 2. In Barre at 445 am, a tree was down on South St. In Gardner at 740 am, a tree was down on a car on Elm St. and at noon multiple trees and limbs were reported down throughout the town. In Winchendon at 1105 am, a tree and wires were down near School St. and Robbins Rd.; a tree was down on West St. and Irwin Ct.; and a large tree was down on wires on Hale St. In Ashburnham at noon, two trees and wires were down on Route 12--one of the trees fell onto a car. In Lunenburg at 110 PM, a large tree was down on power lines at Highland Street and Holdman Street; a tree was down on Graham Street; a tree was down on Cushing Lane; and a tree and wires were down on Island Road. In Westminster at 2 PM, a tree was down on South Ashburnham Road and a tree and wires were down on Potato Hill Road. In Leominster between 330 PM and 4 PM, an 18-inch diameter tree was down on Weathervane Drive at Currier and Ives Drive; a large tree was down on power lines on Smith Street; a tree was down on Pleasant Street near Lisa Drive; a tree was down on Tolman Avenue at Industrial Road; and a tree and wires were down on Nashua Street and Mechanic Street.

Wider weather episode

Strong low pressure meandered just off the southeast coast of New England from late on the 13th to early on the 15th, before moving eastward and farther offshore. In its wake, it produced 2 to 3+ feet in northern and western MA. Lesser amounts of 6-12 were common over interior lower elevations. In eastern CT, RI and eastern MA, a coating to 2 inches were common, as precipitation type was mainly wet snow and rain.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1083779. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.