According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), between one and three feet of snow fell in most areas of the state. Salem, Mass., and Plymouth, Mass., each received 38 inches of snowfall. Strong winds compounded the precipitation and resulted in snowdrifts up to seven feet high. Wind gusts averaged between 30 and 60 mph. Cape Cod and other areas of eastern Massachusetts recorded winds of more than 80 mph.
The accumulations from the weekend storm surpassed average monthly snowfall for the month of January in most cities and towns in the region. The average snowfall for January is 13.5 in. for Boston, Mass. Nearby Worcester, Mass., gets an average snowfall of 15.9 inches. Average snowfall for January in Hartford, Conn. is 14.4 inches. Providence, R.I. usually gets 10.6 inches.
According to the NOAA, last weekend's snowfall also comprised a substantial percentage of the annual average accumulations in the region. Boston usually receives 41.8 inches. Worcester gets an average snowfall of 60.8 inches, Providence, gets an average of 32.9 inches and Hartford receives an average of 46.0 inches annually.
According to the NOAA, the storm was the second snowiest on record for Providence, the fifth snowiest for Boston and the fifth snowiest for Worcester.
Chilling temperatures have set local records in addition to the precipitation. Over the past two weeks, eight days in Amherst had low temperatures in the negative numbers, capped by a low of -14 degrees this past Friday. The high temperatures have not been noticeably warmer. On Jan. 18, 10 degrees was the high temperature.
According to the Weather Channel, the average monthly high temperature for Amherst in January is 33 degrees. The average monthly low in January is 11 degrees. Over the past two weeks, not a single day had a high temperature of 33 degrees or above, and on only two occasions has the low temperature reached above 11 degrees.
Students had mixed reactions to the snow, and expressed feelings of both acceptance and frustration. For those living on the East Coast and upperclassmen already accustomed to the weather, the snow was unsurprising. Jenn Roberge '07 said, "I'm from Massachusetts, so I'm already used to it."
"It wasn't anything I didn't expect," said Madeleine Ng '07. "I was in D.C. and I actually left a day early and booked a flight, so that was costly to say the least, and I lost a ride that I would have had otherwise, but it was worth it."
One California native expressed her unpleasant experience with the snow. "It's made my shoes muddy, and I slipped and had to go to the Health Center," said Lauren Villarroel '08. "Also, my flight was delayed." Villarroel did see one positive side of the snow: "I did get to buy cute winter clothes though," she said.
Kirby Schell '06, a Conway, Mass., native echoed Villarroel's fashion concerns but had a less positive outlook. "Usually this time of year I can still get away with wearing flip-flops. But, sadly, this year I am unable to do so."
The biggest inconvenience for most students was delayed and cancelled flights. "I knew two people that got held up at airports for two days. They were really frustrated," said Mimi Li '06. "One of them even threw away his plane tickets and took the train."
For all students, however, the snow will become an expected inconvenience. "It's New England; it's going to snow," said Dan Guariglia '08, of Glen Rock, N.J. "Get used to it."