By Russell Russ

The first two weeks of March were fairly normal, with normal temperatures and even several days with snowfall. Due to this winter’s prevailing weather patterns, southern New England had not seen any big nor’easter-type storms. That all changed on March 13. 

The storm began slowly with light snow showers during the day on March 13. There was just a dusting by 6 p.m. The snowfall was moderate to heavy after 6 p.m., and stayed that way until the early evening of March 14. By 8 a.m. March 14, the total was 8.6 inches. By 2 p.m., it was 13.5 inches. By 8 a.m. March 15, the total snowfall had reached 19.7 inches (at Norfolk’s NWS weather station). The heaviest snow fell from 6 p.m. on March 13 to 8 p.m. on March 14. As recorded at the weather station, two miles southwest of the center of town, the total snowfall amount was an impressive 19.7 inches. There were reports of 25 inches or more in North Norfolk and over the border into Massachusetts. It was a classic elevation-driven snowstorm, with higher elevations getting more snow and lower elevations mostly rain. There were incredible snow depth differences within just a few miles’ distance. Elevation means everything with these types of storms. 

Because of the amount of snow and the fact that it was heavy and wet, it hung on trees and power lines, causing numerous issues around town. Several roads were left unplowed for a day or more because plow trucks were not able to pass downed or low-hanging wires. At the same time, the power crews had a difficult time accessing the sites because of unplowed roads. Fortunately, the official weather observer has a 4-wheel-drive truck, allowing him to get to the weather station even in big snowstorms.  

Adding some additional excitement to the storm, Jon Barbagallo from Norfolk’s Emergency Management office put on a snowfall contest to see who could guess the correct amount of snowfall (as recorded at Norfolk’s weather station). Snowfall contests have been done a few times in recent years, and they always draw many contestants. The winner for this storm’s contest guessed the exact correct total of 19.7 inches.  

This March storm produced the largest snowfall total Norfolk has seen in many years, although it only ranks as fifth for March snowstorms. The largest was March 22-23, 1977, when 26.5 inches was recorded from one storm.  

The storm definitely helped this winter’s bleak snowfall totals. Before the storm, with 10.4 inches included from early March, Norfolk’s winter total was 42.4 inches, 40.2 inches below normal. After the storm, with March’s total of 30.1 inches, the season total is up to a more respectable 62.1 inches, but still 20.5 inches below normal. Can one storm save winter? On paper maybe it can.