Heavy Snow — Southern Worcester, Massachusetts

2020-10-30 · Southern Worcester, Massachusetts

Event narrative

Snow totals ranged from 4.0 to 6.6 inches in southern Worcester County, with an average around 5.5 inches. A NWS employee in Westborough reported 6.6 inches. Totals of 6.5 inches were reported from trained spotters and amateur radio operators in Worcester, Milford, and Grafton. The official measurement at the Worcester Airport was 6.2 inches. Other reports included 6.1 inches in Auburn, 5.8 inches in Millbury, 5.5 inches in Northborough, and 5.3 inches in Sutton. In Dudley at 11 AM EDT, a tree was down on West Main Street from the weight of the snow. In Southborough at 250 PM EDT, a large tree was down on wires on Middle Road from the weight of the snow. In Worcester at 405 PM EDT, a tree was down on Winifred Avenue from the weight of the snow.

Wider weather episode

Immediately after winds and rainfall associated with post-tropical cyclone Zeta (which passed well to our southeast) diminished, a new system approached. This was a rapidly moving upper level low and its associated upper jet max, which moved northeastward from the Mississippi Valley and low pressure again passed to the south of New England. Cold air was streaming into the region from the north. The result was some heavy, wet snow across the region, with many areas receiving 3 to 6 inches. The weight of the snow caused scattered tree and power line damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 920863. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.