More trees in w Methuen and Dracut than in east Methuen....lights flickered numerous times but no loss of power. Several friends and family members in NH were without power for 3 weeks. .... rumor was the 1 electric crew in NH was vacationing in Florida at the time....
Yes there was a gradient in the area. The further up 495 the more the icing became more severe. Especially along 495 and to the west of 495. West Haverhill certainly got hit harder than East Haverhill. The west Haverhill area that borders Salem can be a sweet spot for winter weather.
Methuen did get hit hard. All night long I could hear the branches cracking and breaking off of trees. There was quite the mess to clean up. West Methuen looked like a tank battle had occurred.
Also started as rain in the Merrimack Valley area. Basketball practice that night started at 5. Four hours later when the coaches and players went outside, we found everything encased in ice. We could hear the accidents occurring on 495.