North American blizzard of 2005
The North American blizzard of 2005 was a three-day storm that affected large areas of the northern United States, dropping more than 3 feet (0.9 m) of snow in parts of southeastern Massachusetts, as well as much of the Boston metropolitan area. While this was by far the hardest hit region, it was also a significant snowstorm for the Philadelphia and New York City areas, which both suffered occasional blizzard conditions and 12-15 inch (30–38 cm) snow accumulations.
Category 4 "Crippling" (RSI: 10.34) | |
 Satellite image of the blizzard making its way across the Atlantic states. | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Blizzard Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 20, 2005 |
| Dissipated | January 23, 2005 |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 38.0 in Salem, Massachusetts |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Casualties | At least 12 |
| Areas affected | Upper Midwest, Great Lakes Region, Northeastern United States, British Isles, Scandinavian Peninsula |
The storm began dropping snow on the upper Midwest on Thursday, January 20, 2005. It slowly moved eastward affecting the Great Lakes region and the Mid-Atlantic states on Friday and Saturday, January 21 and January 22, 2005. On Saturday evening the storm entered the Southern New England area. The strength of the storm, coupled with the extreme Arctic temperatures, created a light, fluffy snow which increased the snowfall totals.
The storm shut down Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts and T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island, while also impairing travel throughout much of Massachusetts due to the high amount of snow covering the roads. Practically all schools in the Metrowest and South East regions of Massachusetts were closed for at least two days. Cape Cod Community College, as well as all public schools on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were closed for up to a week.
After traveling across the Atlantic Ocean, the storm system hit parts of Great Britain and Ireland and the Scandinavian peninsula, causing even more widespread blackouts and a small number of deaths in the region.
Conditions
Conditions throughout much of eastern Massachusetts were near-whiteout and, in some cases, were whiteout. State Police in both Dartmouth and Middleborough suggested that residents travel as little as possible. Major highways, such as Route 24, Route 6 and Route 140, could not be properly cleared because of the heavy snowfall and high winds. Secondary highways, such as Route 79 were nearly impassable in some areas.
Many Boston-area newscasters credit the New England Patriots football game on January 23 for keeping most travellers indoors, avoiding the pile-ups and endless lines of stuck cars that were the hallmark of the Blizzard of 1978. The fact that the storm fell on a weekend when many people did not have to go to work or school also helped to this effect.
Aftermath
With much of the snow cleared from the roads by the evening of January 24, snowpiles on street corners were in excess of ten feet high in some locations. Roads were severely narrowed in most congested areas, due to parked cars that were not towed and instead simply plowed in. Most schools in eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island remained closed for an extended period of time to allow for clean-up of the road debris.
Storm totals
Location - storm total - time/date - comments - snowfall measurement
Litchfield County
Litchfield- 12.2
Hartford County
East Granby 14.3 inches (36.3 cm)
Burlington 13.3 inches (33.7 cm)
Southington 12.8 inches (32.5 cm), 8:54 p.m. January 24 General public
Windsor Locks 12.5 inches (31.8 cm), 1:08 p.m. January 23 airport ang (bdl)
South Windsor 11.5 inches (29.2 cm), 1:14 p.m. January 23
Windsor 11.0 inches (27.9 cm), 8:20 p.m. January 23
Unionville 8.8 inches (22.4 cm), 1:30 p.m. January 23
Tolland County
Stafford Springs 16.0 inches (40.6 cm), 2:23 p.m. January 23
Hebron 12.0 inches (30.5 cm), 1:20 p.m. January 23
Andover 7.0 inches (17.8 cm), 3:09 p.m. January 23
Storrs 7.0 inches (17.8 cm), 1:23 p.m. January 23
Windham County
North Grosvenordale 14.0 inches (35.6 cm), 2:18 p.m. January 23
Plainfield 9.5 inches (24.1 cm), 1:22 p.m. January 23
Ashford 9.0 inches (22.9 cm), 1:16 p.m. January 23
Eastford 8.0 inches (20.3 cm), 1:21 p.m. January 23
Barnstable County
Mashpee 30.5 inches (77.5 cm), 5:23 p.m. January 23
Sagamore Beach 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 9:44 p.m. January 23
Yarmouth Port 29.0 inches (73.7 cm), 2:40 p.m. January 23
Brewster 28.5 inches (72.4 cm), 8:20 p.m. January 23
Harwich Port 28.0 inches (71.1 cm), 10:49 p.m. January 23 general public
Sandwich 27.5 inches (69.9 cm), 3:15 p.m. January 23 NWS employee
North Eastham 26.5 inches (67.3 cm), 5:28 p.m. January 23
Bristol County
New Bedford 26.0 inches (66 cm), 5 Ft (1.5 m) Drifts
Taunton 26.0 inches (66 cm), 3:31 p.m. January 23, 5 Ft (1.5 m) Drifts
Fairhaven 25.5 inches (64.8 cm), 8:47 p.m. January 23
Rehoboth 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 2:47 p.m. January 23
Easton 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 1:07 p.m. January 23 W.E. 1.71
Acushnet 21.5 inches (54.6 cm), 3:04 p.m. January 23
Somerset 20.0 inches (50.8 cm), 3:03 p.m. January 23
Taunton 18.0 inches (45.7 cm), 7:00 p.m. January 23 NWS Office kbox
Seekonk 15.0 inches (38.1 cm), 4:30 p.m. January 23, 5 Ft (1.5 m) drifts
Dukes County
Edgartown 24.0 inches (61.0 cm), 2:40 p.m. January 23
Essex County
Salem 38.0 inches (96.5 cm), 2:56 p.m. January 23 Em
North Beverly 32.0 inches (81.3 cm), 8:25 p.m. January 23
Peabody 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 1:55 p.m. January 23
Saugus 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 2:34 p.m. January 23
Topsfield 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 5:52 p.m. January 23
West Peabody 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 3:53 p.m. January 23
Marblehead Neck 29.0 inches (73.7 cm), 2:34 p.m. January 23
Methuen 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 2:04 p.m. January 23
Salem 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 10:40 p.m. January 23 Salem state
Haverhill 26.5 inches (67.3 cm), 9:59 p.m. January 23, 7 Ft (2.1 m) drifts
Manchester 26.5 inches (67.3 cm), 3:09 p.m. January 23
Beverly 26.0 inches (66 cm), 8:02 p.m. January 23 CO-Op observer
Ipswich 26.0 inches (66 cm), 3:10 p.m. January 23
Marblehead 26.0 inches (66 cm), 9:41 p.m. January 23
Lynn 24.0 inches (61 cm), 2:50 p.m. January 23
Rowley 24.0 inches (61 cm), 2:56 p.m. January 23
Swampscott 24.0 inches (61 cm), 3:53 p.m. January 23
Lawrence 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 1:30 p.m. January 23
North Andover 26.0 inches (66.0 cm), 1:00 p.m. January 23, 6 Ft (1.8 m) drifts
Franklin County
Ashfield 15.5 inches (39.4 cm), 3:38 p.m. January 23
Hampden County
Chicopee 14.0 inches (35.6 cm), 11:56 p.m. January 23
Granville 12.0 inches (30.5 cm), 2:15 p.m. January 23
Wilbraham 11.0 inches (27.9 cm), 2:07 p.m. January 23
Southwick 10.0 inches (25.4 cm), 2:23 p.m. January 23, 0.84 inches (2.13 cm), we
Hampshire County
Southampton 12.5 inches (31.8 cm), 2:06 p.m. January 23
Northampton 12.0 inches (30.5 cm), 2:32 p.m. January 23
South Hadley 11.0 inches (27.9 cm), 2:31 p.m. January 23
Amherst 10.0 inches (25.4 cm), 2:06 p.m. January 23
Belchertown 8.5 inches (21.6 cm), 2:05 p.m. January 23
Middlesex County
Melrose 36.0 inches (91.4 cm), 1:16 p.m. January 23
Cambridge 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 2:58 p.m. January 23
Wakefield 28.0 inches (71.1 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
Billerica 27.5 inches (69.9 cm), 9:17 p.m. January 23
South Chelmsford 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 1:14 p.m. January 23
Everett 26.5 inches (67.3 cm), 3:00 p.m. January 23
Belmont 26.0 inches (66 cm), 9:18 p.m. January 23
North Billerica 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 1:00 p.m. January 23
Malden 28.5 inches (71.6 cm), 2:30 p.m. January 23
Wilmington 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 1:37 p.m. January 23
Woburn 24.0 inches (61 cm), 10:40 p.m. January 23
Wayland 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 3:40 p.m. January 23
Westford 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 5:26 p.m. January 23
Lexington 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 2:49 p.m. January 23
Stoneham 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 1:23 p.m. January 23
Ayer 20.3 inches (51.6 cm), 3:30 p.m. January 23
Littleton 19.0 inches (48.3 cm), 2:41 p.m. January 23
Chelmsford 18.5 inches (47 cm), 2:19 p.m. January 23
Dracut 18.2 inches (46.2 cm), 2:20 p.m. January 23
Pepperell 18.0 inches (45.7 cm), 2:49 p.m. January 23
Townsend 18.0 inches (45.7 cm), 4:02 p.m. January 23
Shirley 14.0 inches (35.6 cm), 1:05 p.m. January 23
Hudson 13.5 inches (34.3 cm), 3:00 p.m. January 23
Nantucket County
Nantucket 24.0 inches (61 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
Norfolk County
Weymouth 28.5 inches (72.4 cm), 2:44 p.m. January 23
Braintree 28.3 inches (71.9 cm), 4:42 p.m. January 23
North Attleboro 28.1 inches (71.9 cm), 7:37 p.m. January 23
Milton 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
South Weymouth 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 9:18 p.m. January 23
Sharon 26.0 inches (66 cm), 4:30 p.m. January 23
Foxboro 25.1 inches (63.8 cm), 5:11 p.m. January 23
Millis 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
Needham 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 9:21 p.m. January 23
Randolph 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 8:19 p.m. January 23
Franklin 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 3:09 p.m. January 23
Canton 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 2:59 p.m. January 23
Dedham 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
Walpole 20.5 inches (52.1 cm), 2:40 p.m. January 23
Plainville 20.0 inches (50.8 cm), 2:48 p.m. January 23
Wellesley 17.2 inches (43.7 cm), 2:39 p.m. January 23
Plymouth County
Plymouth 36.0 inches (91.4 cm), 7:02 p.m. January 23
Plympton 35.0 inches (88.9 cm), 10:41 p.m. January 23 general public
Lakeville 30.0 inches (76.2 cm), 1:17 p.m. January 23
Manomet 28.0 inches (71.1 cm), 10:40 p.m. January 23
Rockland 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 8:03 p.m. January 23
Wareham 26.0 inches (66 cm), 3:09 p.m. January 23
Marshfield 25.0 inches (63.5 cm), 2:30 p.m. January 23
Hanson 24.2 inches (61.5 cm), 3:11 p.m. January 23
Kingston 24.0 inches (61 cm), 9:41 p.m. January 23
West Duxbury 24.0 inches (61 cm), 2:43 p.m. January 23
Whitman 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 3:02 p.m. January 23
Scituate 21.5 inches (54.6 cm), 4:01 p.m. January 23
Brockton 21.2 inches (53.8 cm), 5:20 p.m. January 23
Marion 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 8:35 p.m. January 23
Hingham 20.5 inches (52.1 cm), 5:07 p.m. January 23
Suffolk County
Winthrop 28.6 inches (72.6 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
Winthrop Square 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 10:00 p.m. January 23
Boston Common 26.0 inches (66 cm), 1:16 p.m. January 23 NWS employee
Roslindale 25.5 inches (64.8 cm), 3:05 p.m. January 23
East Boston 22.5 inches (57.2 cm), 7:00 p.m. January 23 Logan kbos
Worcester County
Northborough 26.0 inches (66 cm), 3:19 p.m. January 23
Uxbridge 26.0 inches (66 cm), 1:29 p.m. January 23
Shrewsbury 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 3:25 p.m. January 23
Webster 23.0 inches (58.4 cm), 2:02 p.m. January 23
Gardner 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 2:50 p.m. January 23
Southborough 22.0 inches (55.9 cm), 3:11 p.m. January 23
North Grafton 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 1:04 p.m. January 23 ret NWS orh oic
Fitchburg 20.7 inches (52.6 cm), 2:10 p.m. January 23
Holden 19.0 inches (48.3 cm), 2:04 p.m. January 23
Lunenburg 18.5 inches (47 cm), 2:02 p.m. January 23
Boylston 18.1 inches (46 cm), 3:04 p.m. January 23
Old Sturbridge 18.0 inches (45.7 cm), 2:03 p.m. January 23
Leicester 17.0 inches (43.2 cm), 1:33 p.m. January 23, 3-4 Ft (0.9 m-1.2 m) drifts
Spencer 18.0 inches (45.7 cm), 2:05 p.m. January 23
Oxford 15.0 inches (38.1 cm), 2:07 p.m. January 23
West Brookfield 15.0 inches (38.1 cm), 2:30 p.m. January 23
Ashburnham 14.0 inches (35.6 cm), 9:17 p.m. January 23
West Warren 12.5 inches (31.8 cm), 3:14 p.m. January 23
Athol 12.0 inches (30.5 cm), 2:33 p.m. January 23
Cheshire County
Dublin 18.5 inches (47 cm), 1:21 p.m. January 23
Alstead 12.5 inches (31.8 cm), 1:03 p.m. January 23 v
Hillsborough County
Hollis 19.0 inches (48.3 cm), 3:45 p.m. January 23
Nashua 18.5 inches (47 cm), 4:00 p.m. January 23
New Ipswich 17.5 inches (44.5 cm), 1:35 p.m. January 23
Greenville 16.5 inches (41.9 cm), 2:20 p.m. January 23
Hudson 15.6 inches (39.6 cm), 1:36 p.m. January 23
South Weare 12.5 inches (31.8 cm), 4:29 p.m. January 23
Rockingham County
Atkinson 26.8 inches (68.07 cm) 7:00 a.m. January 23
Plaistow 24.0 inches (60.1 cm) 12:35 p.m. January 23
Ulster County
Kingston 12.2 inches (31 cm)
Bristol County
Bristol 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 5:02 p.m. January 23
Kent County
West Warwick 24.5 inches (62.2 cm), 2:51 p.m. January 23
Warwick 23.4 inches (59.4 cm), 1:02 p.m. January 23 TF Green (Pvd)
Warwick 20.9 inches (53.1 cm), 3:16 p.m. January 23
Coventry 17.5 inches (44.5 cm), 4:40 p.m. January 23
Providence County
North Cumberland 27.0 inches (50.8 cm), 7:45 p.m. January 23
Johnston Memorial 22.5 inches (57.2 cm), 4:03 p.m. January 23 NWS employee
Greenville 21.5 inches (54.6 cm), 1:13 p.m. January 23
Cranston 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 2:53 p.m. January 23
Rumford 19.0 inches (48.3 cm), 10:46 p.m. January 23
Woonsocket Reservoir 18.9 inches (48 cm), 1:55 p.m. January 23, 1.36 inches (3.45 cm), we
Pawtucket 16.0 inches (40.6 cm), 2:10 p.m. January 23
Washington County
Hopkinton 21.0 inches (53.3 cm), 2:36 p.m. January 23
Westerly 20.0 inches (50.8 cm), 5:35 p.m. January 23, 5 Ft (1.5 m) Drifts
North Kingstown 17.0 inches (43.2 cm), 1:02 p.m. January 23
Berks County
Morgantown 10.0 inches (25 cm)
Carbon County
Albrightsville 13.0 inches (33 cm)
Lehighton 11.5 inches (29 cm)
Chester County
Phoenixville 11.8 inches (30 cm) Honey Brook 8.0 inches (20 cm)
Lehigh County
Lehigh Valley International Airport 10.6 inches (27 cm)
Germansville 10.2 inches (26 cm)
Monroe County
Saylorsburg 11.0 inches (28 cm)
Pocono Summit 10.0 inches (25 cm)
Montgomery County
Conshohocken 13.5 inches (34 cm)
Green Lane 11.0 inches (28 cm)
Palm 11.0 inches (28 cm)
Northampton County
Forks Township 14.9 inches (38 cm)
Easton 12.0 inches (30 cm)
Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia 13.4 inches (34 cm)
Philadelphia International Airport 12.6 inches (32 cm)