Massachusetts experiences significant snowfall events that vary widely from year to year. Understanding annual totals requires looking beyond a single number, as the state’s geography creates distinct weather zones. The region is regularly impacted by powerful winter storms, known as Nor’easters, which draw moisture from the Atlantic Ocean. These systems, combined with differences in elevation, result in highly variable annual snow accumulation across Massachusetts.
Annual Average Snowfall Across Massachusetts
The state-wide average seasonal snowfall generally falls within a range of 40 to 50 inches annually. Most accumulation occurs during the winter months, typically beginning in December and extending through late March or early April. For instance, Boston, a major metropolitan hub, averages approximately 49.2 inches of snowfall per season based on 1991–2020 climate data. This figure highlights the state’s potential for notable winter weather, even in coastal areas.
Regional Differences in Snow Accumulation
Snowfall totals change dramatically depending on the specific geographic location within Massachusetts. The western part of the state, particularly the Berkshire Mountains, consistently receives the highest annual totals. Due to higher elevations, the Berkshires often record between 60 and 80 inches of snow each year, with some towns exceeding 100 inches in a typical season. Cooler temperatures at altitude mean precipitation is more likely to fall and remain as snow rather than rain.
Moving eastward into Central Massachusetts, cities like Worcester average around 72.9 inches of snow annually. These inland areas are farther from the Atlantic’s moderating effect, allowing colder air masses to remain dominant during storms. The influence of Nor’easters, which track up the coast, heavily determines the snowfall for both Central and Eastern Massachusetts.
The coastal and southeastern regions, including Cape Cod and the Islands, experience the lowest snowfall totals. The Atlantic Ocean’s relative warmth during winter often keeps temperatures just above freezing, causing snow to frequently change to rain or sleet. Average annual snowfall in the Cape Cod area typically ranges from 10 to 30 inches. This moderating coastal effect is the primary reason for the wide disparity in snow totals across the state.
Tracking and Official Measurement of Snowfall
Official snowfall measurements are conducted by trained observers and the National Weather Service (NWS) using specific protocols. The measurement of new snowfall is taken to the nearest tenth of an inch, often utilizing a flat, white surface called a “snowboard.” This board is cleared after each measurement to prevent combining snowfall from different time periods.
The total snow depth—the amount of all snow and ice remaining on the ground—is measured separately to the nearest whole inch, accounting for settling and melting. Measuring snow accurately can be challenging due to high winds causing drifting or compaction, so observers often take multiple measurements and calculate an average. Meteorologists also track the liquid equivalent, which is the water content of the melted snow, to assess potential flooding risk.
Notable Historical Snowfall Events
Historical records show that Massachusetts has been subject to intense winter storms. The Blizzard of 1978 stands as a benchmark event, striking the state on February 6–8, 1978. This massive Nor’easter delivered between two and four feet of snow across many areas over a period of 32 hours. Boston officially recorded 27.1 inches of snow, and some South Shore communities saw totals as high as 54 inches.
The Blizzard of 1978 was characterized by hurricane-force wind gusts, reaching 111 miles per hour in coastal areas and creating drifts up to 15 feet high. More recently, Central Massachusetts experienced extreme accumulation during the winter of 2015, when Worcester received 32 inches from a single blizzard in January. The state’s record for the greatest snow depth was 62 inches, recorded in Great Barrington in January 1996.