First snow storm of 2024 leaves tens of thousands without power
Depending on where you live, the snow storm impacting Massachusetts through the weekend either left you buried and working to remove more than a foot of snow or entirely unscathed and perhaps wishing for a more wintery experience.
According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Bay State saw more than a foot of snow in the 24 hours that passed since the storm entered the region Saturday evening
By noon on Sunday, parts of the Bay State’s Merrimack Valley and the Worcester region recorded more than a foot of snow and showed dozens of major power outages as winds gusted over 50 mph.
“Snow intensity has increased this afternoon across much of the region, including Boston! The rain/snow line will steadily collapse SE this evening,” NWS Boston said via the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Snow totals as of 1:30 PM. Snow intensity has increased this afternoon across much of the region, including Boston! The rain/snow line will steadily collapse SE this evening
*This map is only as good as observations we receive from YOU! Please keep sending reports along!* pic.twitter.com/7T1jfuwT1O
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 7, 2024
According to information provided by electricity supplier National Grid, there were hundreds of individual station and line outages causing more than 25,000 customers to lose power through parts of Sunday.
“As of 9:45 a.m., approximately 12,584 customers are without power, with the Merrimack Valley region seeing the most outages. Since the start of the event last night, more than 12,800 customers have had their power restored. Field personnel are first responding to emergency 911 and wires down calls and prioritizing critical care facilities. Crews will then assess damage, clear trees and debris, and make repairs to electrical infrastructure wherever conditions are safe to do so,” the company said via social media.
As of 9:45 a.m., approximately 12,584 customers are without power, with the Merrimack Valley region seeing the most outages. Since the start of the event last night, more than 12,800 customers have had their power restored. Field personnel are first responding to emergency 911… pic.twitter.com/2zDAiT2JQU
— National Grid MA (@nationalgridMA) January 7, 2024
More than 3,000 customers in Tyngsboro alone saw their power go down for hours in the morning, before it was briefly restored only to go out again around 1 p.m. A fix would take most of the day, according to National Grid’s outage map.
A National Grid employee told the Herald heavy snow clinging to power lines coupled with gusting winds was to blame for the outages.
By mid-afternoon, Eversource was showing more than 2,000 customers without power in their eastern Massachusetts network.
Snow continued to fall through the day and into the evening, with most of the weather system forecasted to move out over the Atlantic as Sunday night.
“Additional snowfall of 4-8 inches are expected for much of the aforementioned areas through tonight when the storm is expected to pull away into the Atlantic. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect. Conditions should improve on Monday,” NWS wrote.
By evening, parts of Haverhill, Groveland, Dunstable, and Lunenburg were showing more than 17 inches of accumulated snowfall. Andover, Methuen, Newbury, Pepperell, Townsend and Tyngsboro each recorded more than 15 inches.
Boston saw just two inches of accumulation, according to the weather service, and Roxbury recorded just 0.1 of an inch.
Brookline’s Aspen Murray (front) and Ian Toh play in the snow on Sunday morning at Larz Anderson Park. (Libby O’Neill/ Boston Herald)