Massachusetts Digs Out: Final Snow Totals Are In!

Well, wasn't that a snowstorm for the ages, or at least for this winter so far? After watching those flakes fall tirelessly yesterday, blanketing everything in sight, many of us were eagerly awaiting the official word on just how much accumulation we actually got. That quiet hush, the sudden stillness in the air as the snow piled up… it’s a feeling unique to New England winters, isn’t it?

And boy, did the numbers vary! From a respectable dusting in some coastal areas to truly impressive, back-breaking piles further inland, it was a real testament to the capricious nature of Massachusetts weather. What seemed like a uniform white blanket often hid significant differences from town to town, even street to street. It just goes to show, predicting these things down to the last flake is always a bit of a challenge!

Let's dive into the totals reported across our beloved Commonwealth. As predicted, some spots truly got hammered. Parts of Worcester County, for instance, saw well over a foot of fresh powder. Imagine waking up to that! We're talking 14 inches in places like Shrewsbury, and nearly 13 inches in Auburn, making for some serious work before breakfast this morning. Those folks definitely earned their hot cocoa.

Closer to the city, Boston proper seemed to dodge the very worst of it, settling in nicely with around 8-9 inches in most neighborhoods. Still, that's no small feat to shovel, especially when you're battling for street parking! Heading north, towns along the Merrimack Valley, like Lowell and Lawrence, generally landed in the 10-12 inch range, requiring quite the digging-out efforts from residents.

Down on the South Shore, towns from Quincy to Plymouth reported a solid 9-11 inches. A good, healthy snowfall that made for some picturesque scenes, but certainly kept the plows busy. The Metrowest area, places like Framingham and Natick, mostly saw totals in the 8-10 inch bracket, which is still a significant amount of snow to contend with.

Now, for those of you on Cape Cod, you might be feeling a tad left out – or perhaps incredibly relieved, depending on your perspective! Much of the Outer Cape received significantly less, often just 4-6 inches, with some areas closer to Buzzards Bay getting a bit more. It just goes to show, even within a single storm, elevation and proximity to the warmer ocean waters play a huge, sometimes surprising, role.

Regardless of your specific snow total, there's no denying the storm left its mark. Schools enjoyed a well-deserved snow day, giving kids a chance to play outside (or sleep in!), travel was, let's just say, challenging for a good portion of yesterday, and the sounds of snowblowers and shovels were the definitive soundtrack to our morning. Now, as the skies clear and temperatures dip, we're left with that quintessential New England winter scene: crisp air, glistening white, and the quiet satisfaction of having weathered another successful snow event. Just remember to lift with your knees!