41 Days

Putting The 2015 Winter Stretch

of Eastern Southern New England
into Historical Perspective
What a stretch we were in, and are still in with the Snowpack. A major
congratulations (or maybe not) to those in Eastern Southern New England. As everyone
with a shovel, and of course the media, has been portraying this as apocalyptic, lets take
an Actual statistical look at how apocalyptic, this stretch actually is.
For comparison, we will use statistics in my town of Cumberland, RI, Worcester, MA,
and Boston, MA to create a center triangle of data from Eastern Southern New England.
The periods of time we will use are from the Top 4 known stretches of winter:
Mid-January to Mid-March 1920
Late-December 1947 to Mid-March 1948
Early-February to Late-March 1969
Mid-January to Late-March 1978
There have been other stretches in the 18th and 19th Centuries that have been lightly
documented, most notably the Great Snow of 1717, but unfortunately there is not enough
hard data to correctly rate them in a detailed prospective.

Legend: When highlighted in Green 2015 Stats are Comparable to related stretch
When highlighted in Red 2015 does Not measure up to related stretch
When highlighted in Maroon 2015 does Not at All measure up to related stretch
When highlighted in Blue 2015 is More impressive than related stretch
When highlighted in Dark Blue 2015 is Far more impressive than related stretch
When Not highlighted for Snow Depths Cannot be determined until Stretch is over

(All Snow Depth Data with + symbol is currently through March 9th)

Mid-January to Mid-March 1920:

Cumberland, RI Days of 30 Depth

Days of 12 Depth
1920 50 / 2015 42+

Days of 20 Depth
1920 30 / 2015 36+

1920 7

/ 2015 2
Highest Depth: 1920 - 34 2015 30
1920: Best Stretch of Storms 10, 15, 12 Total = 57 In 32 Days
(1.8 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 1/24 to 2/15 24, 12, 13, 12 Total = 72 In 23
Days (3.1 Per Day)
Worcester, MA Days of 30 Depth

Days of 12 Depth
1920 61 / 2015 42+

Days of 20 Depth
1920 39 / 2015 42+

1920

0 / 2015 31
Highest Depth: 1920 - 36 2015 41
1920: Best Stretch of Storms 12, 18 Total = 47 In 32 Days
(1.7 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 34, 17, 14, 10 Total = 89 In 23 Days
(3.9 Per Day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Boston, MA Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days of
30 Depth
1920 45 / 2015 42+
1920 28 / 2015 36+
1920 5 /
2015 - 24
Highest Depth: 1920 - 32 2015 44
1920: Best Stretch of Storms 10, 15, 10 Total = 50 In 32 Days (1.5
Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 24, 16, 24, 16 Total = 90 In 23 Days
(3.9 Per Day)

Late-December 1947 to Mid-March 1948

Cumberland, RI Days of 12 Depth
Days of 30 Depth
1947-48 79 / 2015 42+
1947-48 27 / 2015 2

Days of 20 Depth
1947-48 46 / 2015 36+

Highest Depth: 1947-48 - 36 2015 30

Best Stretch of Storms 12/23/47 to 1/25/48 12, 12, 12, 10, 15 - Total = 75 In
34 Days (2.2 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 1/24 to 2/15 24, 12, 13, 12 Total = 72 In 23
Days (3.1 Per Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Worcester, MA
Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days of 30 Depth
1947-48 80 / 2015 42+
1947-48 48 / 2015 42+
1947-48 31 / 2015 31
*If it werent for a massive rainstorm on February 14th, 1948 that cut 20 or so in 1 Day, this pack could
have
remained over 20 for an additional 18 Days and went 66 Straight Days of a 20
Snowpack.

Highest Depth: 1947-48 - 44 2015 41

1948: Best Stretch of Storms 10, 15, 10 Total = 62 In 34 Days
(1.8 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 34, 17, 14, 10 Total = 89 In 23
Days (3.9 Per Day)
Boston, MA
Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days of 30 Depth
1947-48 21 / 2015 42+
1947-48 2 / 2015 36+
1947-48
0 / 2015 24
Highest Depth: 1947-48 - 21 2015 44
1948: Best Stretch of Storms 10, 12 Total = 22 In 8 Days (2.8
Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 24, 16, 24, 16 Total = 90 In 23 Days
(3.9 Per Day)

Early-February to Late-March 1969:

Cumberland, RI
Days of 30 Depth

Days of 12 Depth

Days of 20 Depth

1969 40 / 2015 42+

1969 22 / 2015 36+

1969

16 / 2015 2
Highest Depth: 1969 - 40 2015 30
1969: Best Stretch of Storms 2/10/69 to 2/27/69 24, 36 - Total = 60 In
18 Days (3.3 Per Day)
*Top 10 Biggest Snowstorm and then 2nd Biggest Snowstorm
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 1/24 to 2/15 24, 12, 13, 12 Total = 72 In 23
Days (3.1 Per Day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Worcester, MA Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days of 30 Depth
1969 31 / 2015 42+
1969 21 / 2015 42+
1969
11 / 2015 31
Highest Depth: 1969 - 33 2015 41
1969: Best Stretch of Storms 18, 20 Total = 38 In 18 Days (2.1
Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 34, 17, 14, 10 Total = 89 In 23 Days
(3.9 Per Day)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Boston, MA
Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days
of 30 Depth
1969 8 / 2015 42+
1969 0 / 2015 36+
1969 0 /
2015 24
Highest Depth: 1969 - 17 2015 44
1969: Best Stretch of Storms 11, 18 Total = 29 In 18 Days
(1.6 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 24, 16, 24, 16 Total = 90 In 23 Days
(3.9 Per Day)

Mid-January to Mid-March 1978:

Cumberland, RI
Days of 30 Depth

Days of 12 Depth

Days of 20 Depth

1978 50 / 2015 42+

1978 36 / 2015 36+

1978

14 / 2015 2
Highest Depth: 1948 - 40 2015 30
1978: Best Stretch of Storms 1/20/78 to 2/7/78 20, 50 Total = 70 In
19 Days (3.7 Per Day)
*Biggest Snowstorm of All-Time
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 1/24 to 2/15 24, 12, 13, 12 Total = 72 In 23
Days (3.1 Per Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Worcester, MA Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days of 30 Depth
1978 60 / 2015 42+
1978 16 / 2015 42+
1978 2
/ 2015 31
55 Days (11 Days in the middle were 10-11)
Days (In Total Separated)

16 Days (In Total Separated)

Highest Depth: 1978 - 30 2015 44

1978: Best Stretch of Storms 8, 16, 24 (Recalibrated for 6 Hour Rule) Total = 48 In
22 Days (2.2 Per Day)
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 34, 17, 14, 10 Total = 89 In
23 Days (3.9 Per Day)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Boston, MA
Days of 12 Depth
Days of 20 Depth
Days
of 30 Depth
1978 39 / 2015 42+
1978 13 / 2015 36+
1978
1 / 2015 24
Highest Depth: 1978 - 29 2015 44
1978: Best Stretch of Storms 21, 32 (Recalibrated for 6 Hour Rule) Total = 53 In 19
Days (2.8 Per Day)
*Great Blizzard of 1978 Should be Bostons Biggest Snowstorm of AllTime at ~32
2015: Best Stretch of Storms 24, 16, 24, 16 Total = 90 In 23
Days (3.9 Per Day)

For starters Concerning Boston, because it was just miles from the greatest parts of
the 1947-1948 and 1969 stretch, and that 1978s stretch did not have a lengthy 20
Snowpack in the city, it can solidly be stated that This stretch in 2015, is ultimately the
Greatest Winter Stretch in recorded history for the city of Boston. Its over 70 mark in 17
days and 90.2 mark in 23 days would leave a famous poet + climatologist combo at a loss o
appropriate adjectives, and is almost unheard of for any major city anywhere anyway.
Furthermore, this does not even figure Another integral point that is needed for the
argument of the other cities used here.
The vital piece of information that paints the backdrop of all these statistics, is that
the 4 major climatology sites in Southern New England (Providence, Worcester, Hartford,
Boston) all had their All-Time Coldest or 2nd All-Time Coldest February behind the ice box of
1934. More than the month of February, there was in total, a 43 Day stretch where the
entire region did not get above 40*F; which was a record in itself throughout the area.
Hence, just to be mentioned in the Top 5 greatest winter snowpack stretches, coupled with
a slew of All-Time Bi-Monthly, Monthly, Weekly, 20 Day, 30 Day, 40 Day, 50 Day and 60 Day
snowfall records, on Top of #1 or #2 cold, would already, undoubtedly put this as the most
brutal and intense winter stretch in this regions history.
For Worcester, even though it at one point had received more snow in Literally Half the
time of the 1947-1948 stretch, does not have the length of the snow depth, at least
Currently, to rival that run. Though I would confidently say that this is Worcesters 2 nd
greatest winter stretch of All-Time. Its 20 and 30 snow depth length vastly beat 1920,
1969, and 1978s runs, and 2015 had far greater amounts of snow / snow per day average.
But 1947-1948s 59 day stretch of only 1 40*F day helped sustain a pack that may never be
beaten. I say #2 for Worcester.
For my home town in Northern Rhode Island, at least currently, I feel it is directly
comparable to the 1920, 1969 and 1978 run, which is incredibly impressive itself. There is
also enough evidence with the 2-Month, 30 Day, 40 Day, 50 Day, 60 Day records that 2015
took, to argue this was more impressive than those 3. Especially with the 60 Day record
falling in 41 Days. But 2015 like Worcester, has no chance to overtake the 1947-1948 run,
specifically because of the length of the 30 snow depth, which was month long. 2015 only
had 2 separate days.

1947-1948s greatness was of course accomplished because the

stretch started in late December, where as 2015s started in late January.

Overall though for Eastern Southern New England, this is solidly on track to be, the
Most prolific, most brutal, and greatest winter stretch Ever recorded with many 55-75
amounts in a 17 day period, 70-95 amounts in a 23 day period, and now near All-Time

Seasonal totals when 41 Days ago, most places had 10 or less on the season. If you need
any more pieces of evidence to call this #1 overall, here they be:
- Blue Hill Observatory having 3 Top 13 Snowstorms in 21 Days.
- The Blizzard of 2015 was Worcesters #1 All-Time Snowstorm.
- Boston having 4 Top 20 Snowstorms in 21 Days.
- Boston never having 3 12 Snowstorms in a season before, and having 4. In 21 Days.
- Those 4 12 storms were all over 15, and 2 were 24. Again, All in 21 days.
- Boston beating its 40 day record (and Easily its 20 and 30 day records) in 17 days.
- Most stations easily breaking their All-Time February snowfall record And Any Month snowfall
record.
- Most stations breaking their 2 Month, 20 Day, 30 Day, 40 Day, 50 Day and 60 Day snowfall
record.
- There were 17 Snow events in the 41 Days, and it Snowed in 25-30 of those days.

41 Days. January 24th March 5th. Etched in Time & Never Forgotten. It is utterly
sac-religious to say this next statement in the snow world of New England, but I shall - The
days of stating that old phrase in an argument Back in the Blizzard of 1978. have
become the past. Winter conversations amongst meteorologists, weather enthusiasts, or
just a dinner table conversation between the common man about the past have changed.
The last 41 Days of January 24th March 5th, is the NEW Blizzard of 1978.

Musically and Snowily

Cory Pesaturo The Snowman

MONTHLY & PERIOD SNOW RECORDS

7 Day Period
1978 50"
1969 42"
1996 40"
2015 38"
1956
2005

34"
33"

20 Day Period
1978 70"
2015 67"
1969 60"
1995-96
48"

30 Day Period
2015 81.25"
1978 80"
1969 66"
1947-48 60"

40 Day Period
2015 92"
1947-48 75"
1978 74"
1969 67"

2005
1920
1947-48
1956
1899

1995-96
2005
1956
1920
1899

1967
1920
1995-96
2005
1916

47"
45"
43"
43"
43"

57.75"
56"
49"
47"
46"

50 Day Period
2015 94.25"
1978 93.75"
2010-11 79.75
1947-48 78"

63"
61"
60"
57.5"
57"

1967
1916
1920
2005
1904

74"
73"
71"
69.5"
69"

2010-11
1920
1967
1904
1916

79.75"
77"
76"
74"
74"

1969
19951996
1956
1906
1899

69"

LEGEND

1967

45"

1904

53"

1969

67"

2015
1978
1969
1948
1920

1916

44"

1899

52"

1995-96
1956
1899
1906

65"
56"
53"
52"

January

60 Day Period
2015 96.75"
1978 93.75"
2004-05
81.5"
1947-48
80"

67"
57"
55"
55"

Duel Month
...(1 per Season)
1/2015 - 2/2015 =
88.5
1/1978 - 2/1978 =
87.5"
12/1947 - 1/1948 =
77"
1/1920 - 2/1920 = 76"
1/2004 - 2/2005 =
75.5"
2/1916 - 3/1916 = 71"
12/2010 - 1/2011 =
69.5"

52.5" in 2005

Overall Month

50" in 2011

61" in Feb. 1969

49" in 1948

53" in Feb. 2015

52.5" in Jan.
2005
50" in Jan. 2011

46" in 1904
42' in 1996

February
61" in 1969

1/1969 - 2/1969 = 69"

53" in 2015

2/1956 - 3/1956 = 65"

50" in 1978
46" in 1920

50" in Feb. 1978

49" in Jan. 1948
46" in Feb. 1920
43" in March
1956
42' in January
1996
41" in March
1916

NORTH CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

98% of All of New England under a 20 Snow Depth on March 6th. Unprecedented.

The 4 Major Storms over 3 weeks.

March 6th, 2015 Snow Cover

To Be Continued