Providence Shatters Blizzard of ’78 Snowfall Record as Historic Storm Moves East
Providence, Rhode Island, is digging out from a record-breaking blizzard that surpassed the historic snowfall totals of the infamous Blizzard of 1978. While the storm is slowly moving eastward, its impact on the Northeast has been significant, with Rhode Island bearing the brunt of the extreme weather.
Record Snowfall in Providence
As of Monday afternoon, T.F. Green International Airport in Providence recorded 32.8 inches of snow, exceeding the previous record of 28.6 inches set during the Blizzard of ’78 . Some locations within Providence have even seen snowfall totals reach 33.5 inches .
Regional Snowfall Totals
The storm impacted a wide swath of the Northeastern United States. Boston received between 12 to 18 inches of snow east of Route 495, with totals reaching 16 to 24 inches from Boston down to Providence . Atlantic City, New Jersey, saw 20.1 inches of snow, while some towns in Chester County, Pennsylvania, received 20.2 inches . Boston Logan Airport reported 14.4 inches of snow as of 1 p.m. On Monday .
Storm Impact and Response
Rhode Island remains under a state of emergency with a travel ban in effect through at least Tuesday morning . Governor Daniel McKee emphasized the focus on public safety, calling it the biggest snowstorm the state has ever seen . All operations at T.F. Green International Airport were temporarily halted due to the severity of the conditions . State government offices are closed through Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Wind Gusts and Future Forecast
Strong winds accompanied the heavy snowfall. Wellfleet, Massachusetts, experienced a gust of 77 mph, while Nantucket reached 83 mph . Hull, Massachusetts, recorded a 70 mph gust and Logan Airport saw a gust of 68 mph .
The storm is expected to subside, with snowfall ending around Boston within a couple of hours of 7 p.m. Skies will partially clear overnight, with temperatures falling to around 20 degrees. Wednesday will bring sunshine and temperatures near freezing, followed by another weather system with the potential for rain or snow. The long-term forecast indicates colder-than-average temperatures for a few days, but a dry and milder weekend .
The Blizzard of ’78
The Blizzard of ’78, which struck February 5-7, 1978, was a catastrophic nor’easter that impacted New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the New York metropolitan area . It was initially known as “Storm Larry” in Connecticut . The storm caused approximately 100 deaths and 4,500 injuries, with damages totaling $520 million (in 1978 USD) .