For the first time in almost four years, the state of Massachusetts saw a true snowstorm: a nor’easter, as they are called in New England. It had been 1,400 days since a snowfall of six or more inches in Massachusetts, and this storm didn’t disappoint. This storm, lasting from Sunday, January 25, until the morning of Tuesday, January 27, was the biggest in a long time. Boston received 23.2 inches: the 8th most in Boston history, and the most since 2022. Other towns and cities in Massachusetts received upwards of 25 inches of snow, with the most in Gloucester, where 27 inches of snow fell.
This wintry storm caused hardships all over the state. At Boston’s Logan Airport, over 1,000 flights were canceled or delayed, which caused a ripple effect at other airports. Some major cities also declared official states of emergency, calling for parking bans to make way for snowplows. Schools all over the state were closed on account of the snow. Over 136 school districts were closed on Monday, January 26, and 91 of those districts remained closed or delayed on Tuesday. The snowy conditions caused many slick roads. On Sunday night, there were almost 150 crashes all over the state. Major highways such as I-495 and I-90 saw major backups due to spin-outs and low visibility.
There were emergencies in towns all over the state. In the coastal town of Marblehead, snow had to be dumped into the harbor because of its sheer volume. Wind chills across Massachusetts plummeted to -10 degrees, causing major cities such as Springfield and Worcester to open emergency warming shelters for their homeless population. In Boston, these temperatures caused frozen and burst pipes across the city. On the Bourne Bridge, a key bridge connecting mainland Massachusetts to Cape Cod, a truck trailer lost control and became stuck. This blocked one of the major roads into Cape Cod, and resulted in heavy traffic.
While this storm was the cause of a statewide emergency, it also brought communities together through acts of incredible heroism. In Auburn, an elderly man had become trapped in snow drifts while shoveling his driveway. A passing snowplow driver saw this scene and jumped into action, digging the man out of the heavy snow. If he hadn’t jumped into action this quickly, the elderly man may have frozen to death within an hour. In another heartwarming story, emergency workers in Worcester spent most of the night rescuing cars that had bottomed out in the snow. Also in Worcester, medical workers who couldn’t make it to their workplaces, due to their cars not working in the snow, were shuttled by neighbors who had 4-wheel drive on their cars to make sure that the hospitals were staffed.
In our hometown of Westborough, there was also some news. Westborough received 17.4 inches of snow, resulting in many stories. Because Westborough sits at the junction of I-495 and the Mass Pike, traffic was heavy and spin-outs and crashes were high. Due to this, emergency crews worked very hard on the highways. For the rotary downtown, local DPW workers pushed to the limits to clear the roadway for smooth transit. The Westborough Public Schools were closed for the two weekdays of the snowstorm due to icy conditions and heavy snowfall. Local students enjoyed a well-needed break and fun times in the snow.
This 1,400-day wait for a true New England snowstorm caused a fury that paralyzed the state, but didn’t break it. As the snow ceased, shovels hit the ground and snowblowers roared to life after being stored away for so long. This mighty storm served as a reminder that real Massachusetts winters haven’t left us just yet, and highlighted the strength of communities all over the state. The snow will eventually clear, but the stories of this blizzard will live on.
