Heavy Snow in Western Essex, Massachusetts

Heavy snowfall generally ranged from 8 to 15 inches in western Essex County. Specific amounts included 14.9 inches in Middleton (CoOp observer), 12.5 inches in Topsfield (public), 12.5 inches in Haverhill (public), 12.5 inches in Methuen (trained spotter), 11.5 inches in North Andover (CoCoRaHS), and 10.5 inches in Boxford (CoCoRaHS), and 8.5 inches in Lawrence (CoOp observer). Winds generally were gusting to 30-40 mph.

A storm system produced heavy snow, strong to damaging winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast. Although it was not deep low pressure and although it passed just south of the 40N/70W benchmark, its precipitation shield was expansive because of a broad 700 mb low over southeast New England, abundant moisture, and a very cold air mass in place. By far, the heaviest snow fell to the north (Laconia, NH) and west (Binghamton, NY), where more than 3 feet fell. But amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches across much of southern New England. There was some minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide and also a flash freeze in eastern Massachusetts as the storm pulled away to the northeast.