What Was The Rainiest Day Ever For Massachusetts?

This past Tuesday's massive rainstorm left a lot of the New England under water and some towns are still dealing with all that rain. Hampton, NH was devasted with widespread flooding along the coast. Many homes were flooded and the damage done is going to be in the millions. As bad as that was, it was not the rainiest day ever for Massachusetts. So what was the rainiest day ever in Massachusetts?

On August 18th into the 19th the record for most rain in a single day in Massachusetts was set in Westfield with an incredible 18.15 inches in a 24 hour period all due to the whopper hurricane Diane.

In little over a week, two hurricanes passed by Southern New England in August 1955 producing major flooding over much of the region. Hurricane Connie produced generally 4-6 inches of rainfall over southern New England on August 11 and 12. The result of this was to saturate the ground and bring river and reservoir levels to above normal levels.

Hurricane Diane came a week later and dealt a massive punch to New England. Rainfall totals from Diane ranged up to nearly 20 inches over a two day period. The headwaters of the Farmington River in Connecticut recorded 18 inches in a 24-hour period. Both of these accumulations exceeded records for New England. The same is true of much of the flooding that resulted from these massive rainfall amounts.

It probably doesn't make you feel better that ol' Diane still has the record for most rainfall, especially if your basement was flooded this past week. The bad news is, that there is more rain coming this weekend. For towns that are still dealing with all the flooding, that means their problems are not going away any time soon. At this point, we probably all wish that it was snow instead. That's something we are much more equipped to handle.

Tap the brakes!! It's too soon to read Snow Predictions For Massachusetts! It's not even autumn yet!

Thanks to the Old Farmers Almanac, as they share their annual snow predictions for the 2023-2204 Winter season.

I always wonder that someday, will I retire outside of New England? Will we move to the sunshine state of Florida? I have friends in Florida that wonder how we have stayed in the Northeast for so long. While four seasons of sun sounds interesting, I still can't get my arms around a Christmas with palm trees. Ok, I'm hearing Andy Williams in December on the radio, and there are dolphins jumping out of the ocean on the way to the market. I'm not wired for that. Or how about Myrtle Beach. Wait, that means I'll have to learn how to golf. No thanks. December to me means Shelby Scott and Bruce Schwoegler on Channel 4 helping me prepare for the inevitable.

I love seeing the first snow. Nearby, we found this Christmas tree farm, where each year, I cut it down myself. Pine needles to sweep up, sap on my hands, centering it in the tree stand, doesn't make sense if it's 85 and sunny outside. Am I weird? Probably, but that's me. By the way, when it all ends, and it does, what follows is a glorious Spring. Change, is good.

Speaking of change, what can we expect THIS Winter when it comes to snow predictions?

Old Farmers Almanac is out with their annual regional snow predictions addition. Here's their opening snow song:

Snowfall will be above normal across most snow-prone areas (except for the Pacific Northwest). Only snowy New England and the Atlantic Corridor will enjoy winter temperatures which are milder than what’s typical for their regions.

What? Milder temperatures across the New England? Well that will be a welcome change for our wallet!

So now that we have faced facts, let's jingle all the way to grandma's, and see the 2023-2024 Snow Predictions For Massachusetts!

This region covers:

Caribou, Burlington, Augusta, Concord, and Albany.

Yippie! Precipitation and snowfall will be above normal. The MOST SNOW will occur in mid-to late November, mid-December and early to mid-January. Temps, above normal.

They consider our neck of the woods the Atlantic Corridor.

It includes:

Boston, Providence, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia, Atlantic City, Washington DC, Baltimore and Richmond.

Sorry! No white Christmas expected.

Yes! Winter precipitation and snowfall will be above normal (2 to 3 inches above monthly averages). The snowiest periods will occur at the end of December, late January, and mid-February. 

But it's weird, temps will be above normal. Making the snow heavier to shovel, I would guess.

Elmira, Scranton, Harrisburg, Frederick, Roanoke, Asheville.

Expect above-normal precipitation and snowfall. The snowiest spells will occur in late December, mid- to late January, and early to mid-February. You can expect a white Christmas in the higher terrain of West Virginia in the north, but not elsewhere in the region. Temps, again LOWER than normal? 

Raleigh, Columbia, Atlanta, Savannah:

Down there, they can expect a wet winter with above-normal precipitation and snowfall for the Southeast (most of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia).

Those lucky SOB's will have a mild winter with above-normal temperatures overall.