Winter Weather — Northern Worcester, Massachusetts

2020-10-30 · Northern Worcester, Massachusetts

Event narrative

In northern Worcester County, snowfall generally ranged from 3 to 6 inches. The highest report was a CoCoRaHS report of 6.3 inches in Sterling. A Cooperative Observer in Fitchburg reported 5.6 inches. Other amounts included: 5.3 in both Holden and Sutton; 4.4 in Templeton; 4.0 in West Warren, Winchendon, and Westminster; 3.8 in Ashburnham; 3.0 in Spencer; and 2.9 in Barre. The snow was quite wet and in Spencer at 210 PM EDT, a large tree fell onto a car on Cherry Street due to 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 920948. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.