Forecast
The extended forecast calls for clear but chilly conditions today with a warm-up midweek. Rain and temperatures into the low 50s are expected for Christmas Eve on Wednesday.
Published 22:13, December the 21st, 2008
Winter weather hits Mass. with 1-2 punch
Two storms in three days prolong power outage in parts of the state
Winter officially began yesterday, and it sure felt like it.
Following a snowy end to autumn on Friday, a second storm gripped the region into last night, causing headaches for travelers and prolonging the fight for power in parts of the state.
According to the National Weather Service, 8.8 inches of snow fell in Boston on Friday, with larger amounts blanketing areas outside the Route 128 corridor. Worcester saw a record 11.6 inches, snapping a Dec. 19 record that stood since 1945.
That was before winter officially arrived at 7:04 a.m. yesterday, bringing more snow with it.
While many were still digging themselves out from Friday’s storm, a second squall hit. Up to 10 inches of snow fell in the north central parts of the state, hampering the efforts of utility crews trying to restore power still out from the Dec. 11-12 ice storm.
National Grid announced late last week that it had restored power to 95 percent of its customers and expected to complete the work over the weekend. Some workers were peeled away from those jobs to help Unitil customers in the Fitchburg area, where nearly 2,000 were still powerless as of yesterday morning.
