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 in snow accumulations.

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 33.0 inches (83.8 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

 * Billerica 27.5 inches (69.9 cm), 9:17 p.m. January 23
 * Cambridge 27.0 inches (68.6 cm), 2:58 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 33.0 inches (83.8 cm), 7:02 p.m. January 23
 * Plympton 30.0 inches (76.2 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 in

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 in

Bucks County

 * Yardley 15.8 in
 * Langhorne 13.0 in
 * Perkasie 12.0 in

Carbon County

 * Albrightsville 13.0 in
 * Lehighton 11.5 in

Chester County

 * Phoenixville 11.8 in
 * Honey Brook 8.0 in

Delaware County

 * Radnor 13.6 in
 * Boothwyn 11.0 in

Lehigh County

 * Lehigh Valley International Airport 10.6 in
 * Germansville 10.2 in

Monroe County

 * Saylorsburg 11.0 in
 * Pocono Summit 10.0 in

Montgomery County

 * Conshohocken 13.5 in
 * Green Lane 11.0 in
 * Palm 11.0 in

Northampton County

 * Forks Township 14.9 in
 * Easton 12.0 in

Philadelphia

 * Northeast Philadelphia 13.4 in
 * Philadelphia International Airport 12.6 in