Ice Storm — Western Hampshire, Massachusetts

2019-12-30 to 2019-12-31 · Western Hampshire, Massachusetts

Event narrative

One-half to three-quarters of an inch of ice accretion was reported throughout western Hampshire County. In Goshen, 0.75 of ice was reported via amateur radio. In Worthington, 0.50 of ice was reported by a utility company. In Chesterfield, 0.50 of ice was reported via amateur radio. An observer in Plainfield reported 0.40 of ice accretion. In Goshen, at 754 AM a tree was reported down on wires on Ball Road and at 844 AM a tree was down on wires on Chesterfield Road and Spruce Corner Road. In Huntington, at 754 AM a tree was down on wires on Searle Road and at 755 AM a tree was down on wires on County Road. In Worthington, at 928 AM wires were down on Lindsey Hill Road and at 956 AM a tree was down on wires on Kinnebrook Road. At 948 AM in Plainfield, a large tree limb was down on wires...and burning on Gloyd Street at South Street. In Chesterfield, at 1000 AM trees were down on Willcutt Road and Damon Pond Road and at 1038 AM wires were down on Don Emerson Road. At 1152 AM in Cummington, tree limbs and wires were down on West Cummington Road by Luther Shaw Road. At 1252 PM in Worthington, a tree and wires were down on Old Post Road.

Wider weather episode

A strong low pressure system over the Great Lakes drew in moisture across southern New England, where cold air remained in place at the higher elevations. This led to ice storm conditions on the 30th in a narrow region along the immediate east slopes of the Berkshires, where 0.5 to 0.75 inches of ice was observed. Lesser amounts occurred in northern Worcester County. There was also some light snow and sleet, mainly north of the Mass Pike. Weaker low pressure developed south of Long Island on the 31st, which prolonged light precipitation.

Elevated instability during the afternoon of the 30th led to thunderstorms tracking across the Poconos, eastern NY, and into northern CT and western and central MA. One of these storms became severe, producing quarter-size hail in Southwick and Westfield, MA (Hampden County) - very unusual for the end of December.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 867979. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.