March 4-6th, 2001 - 25 Years Later

[The 4 Seasons]

It's the 25th anniversary of the infamous March 4-6th, 2001 Blizzard. I've remapped this event now for about the 5th or 6th time and feel I've gotten as close to approximating what happened as i can get and included a new L. Northeast map. As this is a special historic event i also put together a couple of additional graphics, a town by town snowfall list and all 3 of the big storms of Winter 2000-2001. Mar 2001, Feb 2001 and Dec 2000 are the three big storms that really got me into weather at a young age and love for the extreme snowstorms and especially thundersnow.

JDJ March 4-6th, 2001 Page - Our snowfall maps, full radar and surface map animations and additional images

PolarWX Reanalysis - Tomer Burg's site with a reanalysis of the storm from the ECMWF

Weathernet6 Archive - Steve LaPointe's Archive (scroll down and click on March 4-6th, 2001 on the left hand panel)

Ray's Winter Storm Archive - Ray's March 4-6th, 2001 dedicated page

Personal Recounting

The first memory i have about this storm was turning on the local news on Friday night and hearing a teaser about "a storm we could be measuring in feet". All weekend i was flipping back and forth between TWC and local news stations. I remember seeing Kocin on air at the time talking about it could be the biggest snowstorm in NYC in 50 years (probably referring to 1947). When Sunday morning came the whole state and pretty much the east coast, was shut down and preparing for the incoming storm. Light snow broke out in the mid morning hours and continued throughout the day. By dark we had a couple inches on the ground and here came the sleet. It was nothing but a pelting all night long and into the day on Tuesday. At this point it could have been a massive bust but the storm really blew up and the radar filled in and heavy snow backed in from the east/southeast. A full blown blizzard was occuring during the evening and into the overnight hours. We were out snowmobiling up and down the streets with plows unable to keep up and most likely focused on the highways and main roads. By morning on Tuesday, a couple inches of snow & sleet mix turned into over a foot of new snow with light to moderate snow still falling. Throughout the day Tuesday snow continued to fall and seemed like it would never end, over 48 hours later. Snow finally came to an end around midnight, Wednesday about 64-65 hours after it had started. This one of the few surviving radar stills from WeatherTap on March 5th at 9PM. The file size is way too big to attach here, you can click on the link to my page above if you want to see the full radar loop. Here is also a sfc map gif i put together.

Snowfall Maps

This was probably the most brutal storm to ever put together with widely varying snowfall totals and incomplete PNS reports. The BOX PNS is terrible but it at least has dates and times next to the reports so its easy to see the ones that aren't final. The OKX PNS is even worse. The official snowfall totals at climate sites are almost certainly wrong at many sites. The BDR official is 15.5 which seems reasonable until you see some of the reports nearby that are a lot lower. BDL is almost certainly wrong and too low. ORH, according to Will, stopped reporting so its probably slightly too low, and so on. I put together a town by town list of some selected reports and all 3 big storms and snowfall totals combined.

And of course the best video on the internet 

 

[Baroclinic Zone]

Nice synopsis. Forgettable event for me living in Middleborough at the time.

[The 4 Seasons]

23 minutes ago, Baroclinic Zone said:

Nice synopsis. Forgettable event for me living in Middleborough at the time.

definitely for there and NYC, dont even mention it to them. @MJO812favorite storm ever!

he might block me now

[40/70 Benchmark]

Add this thread to the spank-tank....

[dendrite]

One of my faves. It was fun stealing it from DC, then Philly, then NYC, then BOS in just a matter of days.

[dendrite]

Fun times.

MEZ018-019-NHZ010-013-060938-
INTERIOR YORK-INTERIOR CUMBERLAND-STRAFFORD-INTERIOR ROCKINGHAM-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BERWICK...PARSONSFIELD...SANFORD...
BRIDGTON...GRAY...GORHAM...WINDHAM...DEERFIELD...SALEM...DOVER...
ROCHESTER
938 PM EST MON MAR 5 2001

...BLIZZARD WARNING THROUGH TUESDAY...
.TONIGHT...SNOW...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SLEET.  SNOW ACCUMULATION BY
MORNING 8 TO 16 INCHES.  VERY WINDY WITH BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.
LOW IN THE MID TO UPPER 20S. NORTHEAST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS
TO 40 MPH.
.TUESDAY...SNOW.  TOTAL ACCUMULATION 1 TO 3 FEET.  CONTINUED VERY
WINDY.  HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S.  NORTHEAST WIND 20 TO 30 MPH WITH
GUSTS TO 40 MPH.  CHANCE OF SNOW NEAR 100 PERCENT.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...SNOW...TAPERING OFF TO SNOW FLURRIES EARLY.  WINDY.
LOW IN THE LOWER 20S.  CHANCE OF SNOW 90 PERCENT.
.WEDNESDAY...PARTLY SUNNY AND WINDY.  HIGH IN THE LOWER 30S.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT ... UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAY ME
405 PM EST WED MAR 7 2001

...A MAJOR WINTER STORM BROUGHT HEAVY SNOW...STRONG WINDS AND TIDAL 
FLOODING TO WESTERN MAINE AND NORTHERN...CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NEW 
HAMPSHIRE...

THIS IS A STORM SUMMARY WITH REPORTS GATHERED FROM A VARIETY OF 
SOURCES.

SNOWFALL TOTALS EXCEEDED 2 FEET IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS WITH PEAK 
TOTALS OF 3 FEET OR MORE.  THE FOLLOWING LIST INCLUDES STORM TOTAL 
SNOWFALL BROKEN DOWN BY STATE AND BY COUNTY AND ROUNDED TO THE 
NEAREST INCH...

MAINE...

ANDROSCOGGIN...
16 INCHES ... DURHAM
15 INCHES ... POLAND
13 INCHES ... LIVERMORE FALLS
12 INCHES ... LISBON FALLS

CUMBERLAND...
23 INCHES ... SCARBOROUGH /SPOTTER/
22 INCHES ... SOUTH WINDHAM
18 INCHES ... GORHAM...SCARBOROUGH /NWS EMPLOYEE/ AND SOUTH PORTLAND 
              /SAWYER STREET/
17 INCHES ... GRAY /NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE/...PORTLAND 
              /FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR/...PORTLAND /NORTH DEERING/
16 INCHES ... BRIDGTON AND BRUNSWICK /NAVAL AIR STATION/
15 INCHES ... SOUTH BRIDGTON
10 INCHES ... NORTH SEBAGO

FRANKLIN...
15 INCHES ... FARMINGTON
10 INCHES ... NEW SHARON AND WILTON
 7 INCHES ... RANGELEY
 3 INCHES ... EUSTIS

KENNEBEC...
14 INCHES ... WINTHROP
10 INCHES ... ALBION...AUGUSTA AND WAYNE
 6 INCHES ... WATERVILLE

KNOX...
15 INCHES ... ROCKLAND
14 INCHES ... PORT CLYDE

LINCOLN...
18 INCHES ... MONHEGAN ISLAND
15 INCHES ... NEWCASTLE
12 INCHES ... BOOTHBAY

OXFORD...
16 INCHES ... EAST HIRAM AND HARTFORD
13 INCHES ... LOVELL AND WATERFORD
10 INCHES ... BETHEL AND WEST PARIS

SAGADAHOC...
21 INCHES ... BATH

SOMERSET...
 4 INCHES ... NORTH ANSON
 2 INCHES ... FLAGSTAFF LAKE
 2 INCHES ... HARMONY

WALDO...
 6 INCHES ... BELFAST

YORK...
26 INCHES ... SOUTH BERWICK
24 INCHES ... WELLS
21 INCHES ... ELIOT
20 INCHES ... SANFORD
19 INCHES ... KENNEBUNKPORT AND WATERBORO CENTER
18 INCHES ... LIMINGTON AND WATERBORO /LAKE SHERBURNE/
16 INCHES ... HOLLIS

NEW HAMPSHIRE...

BELKNAP...
20 INCHES ... SANBORNTON
18 INCHES ... GILFORD
17 INCHES ... LACONIA
16 INCHES ... BARNSTEAD
12 INCHES ... LAKEPORT
 9 INCHES ... NEW HAMPTON

CARROLL...
14 INCHES ... TAMWORTH
12 INCHES ... CRAWFORD NOTCH
11 INCHES ... NORTH CONWAY
10 INCHES ... CONWAY

COOS...
20 INCHES ... PINKHAM NOTCH
18 INCHES ... GORHAM
14 INCHES ... BERLIN
 8 INCHES ... DIXVILLE NOTCH
 7 INCHES ... DIAMOND POND AND WHITEFIELD
 6 INCHES ... MOUNT WASHINGTON...NORTH STRATFORD AND TWIN MOUNTAIN
 5 INCHES ... COLEBROOK
 4 INCHES ... FIRST CONNECTICUT LAKE...LANCASTER AND PITTSBURG

GRAFTON...
27 INCHES ... ENFIELD
20 INCHES ... GRAFTON
17 INCHES ... ALEXANDRIA AND KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY /NH DOT/
13 INCHES ... LOST RIVER
10 INCHES ... LINCOLN
 9 INCHES ... PLYMOUTH
 8 INCHES ... BETHLEHEM AND FRANCONIA NOTCH
 7 INCHES ... GLENCLIFF AND THORNTON

MERRIMACK...
23 INCHES ... FRANKLIN FALLS
21 INCHES ... SUTTON
20 INCHES ... HOOKSETT
19 INCHES ... BRADFORD AND CANTERBURY
18 INCHES ... CONCORD
17 INCHES ... HENNIKER
16 INCHES ... SALISBURY

ROCKINGHAM...
40 INCHES ... NOTTINGHAM
34 INCHES ... HAMPTON /NH DOT/
28 INCHES ... PORTSMOUTH /PEASE TRADEPORT/
24 INCHES ... SALEM
23 INCHES ... DERRY
17 INCHES ... HAMPTON /SPOTTER/

STRAFFORD...
36 INCHES ... DOVER
32 INCHES ... DURHAM
20 INCHES ... ROCHESTER /NH DOT/
18 INCHES ... ROCHESTER /CO-OP OBSERVER/

SULLIVAN...
14 INCHES ... NEWPORT

THE NEXT LIST CONTAINS PEAK WIND INFORMATION...

MAINE...
64 MPH ... MONHEGAN ISLAND
51 MPH ... SABATTUS
45 MPH ... AUGUSTA
44 MPH ... ROCKLAND AND WATERVILLE
43 MPH ... BRUNSWICK
40 MPH ... LEWISTON...PORTLAND AND SANFORD

NEW HAMPSHIRE...
97 MPH ... MOUNT WASHINGTON
38 MPH ... PORTSMOUTH
37 MPH ... ROCHESTER
36 MPH ... CONCORD
33 MPH ... LACONIA

COASTAL WEATHER BUOYS...
61 KNOTS /70 MPH/ ... ISLE OF SHOALS
60 KNOTS /69 MPH/ ... MATINICUS ROCK
59 KNOTS /68 MPH/ ... MOUNT DESSERT ROCK
41 KNOTS /49 MPH/ ... PORTLAND BUOY

THE STRONG WINDS COMBINED WITH ASTROMOMICALLY HIGH TIDES AND ROUGH 
WAVES TO PRODUCE COASTAL FLOODING.  STORM SURGES WERE 1 1/2 TO 2 1/2 
FEET.  THE HIGHEST WAVES REPORTED WERE 19 FEET AT THE PORTLAND BUOY 
AND 27 FEET AT CACHES LEDGE BUOY.

IN PORTLAND THERE WAS A HIGH TIDE OF 12.0 FEET AT 730 AM ON TUESDAY, 
MARCH 6TH WHICH WAS 1.94 FEET ABOVE NORMAL AND ANOTHER HIGH TIDE OF 
12.35 FEET AT 836 AM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH WHICH WAS 1.78 FEET 
ABOVE NORMAL.

AT SEAVEY ISLAND THERE WAS A HIGH TIDE OF 11.25 FEET AT 748 AM ON 
TUESDAY MARCH 6TH WHICH WAS 2.36 FEET ABOVE NORMAL AND ANOTHER HIGH 
TIDE OF 11.4 FEET AT 842 AM ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 7TH WHICH WAS 2.10 
FEET ABOVE NORMAL.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO THANK WEATHER SPOTTERS 
...COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 
AGENCIES FOR THESE REPORTS.

[The 4 Seasons]

24 minutes ago, dendrite said:

One of my faves. It was fun stealing it from DC, then Philly, then NYC, then BOS in just a matter of days.

Just like Dec 2020.

 

[vortex95]

1 hour ago, Baroclinic Zone said:

Nice synopsis. Forgettable event for me living in Middleborough at the time.

And forgettable for CoastalWx as well  GHG *yawn*!  Worst than 12/12/1992 when he lived in Brockton?!

I got 22" in N Woburn that was 100% wet snow, most ever I had seen from single storm.

[SouthCoastMA]

Like everyone, I do remember it trending north on each news broadcast, and seeing the rain/snow graphics along the south coast being introduced. I knew I was then toast as a young 17 yo weenie. Lets get this again but capture it about 75-100 miles south. 

[The 4 Seasons]

16 minutes ago, vortex95 said:

And forgettable for CoastalWx as well  GHG *yawn*!  Worst than 12/12/1992 when he lived in Brockton?!

I got 22" in N Woburn that was 100% wet snow, most ever I had seen from single storm.

lol ive never seen 20" from a single storm (except 96 but i dont remember that) 

i thoroughly enjoyed that storm, despite only getting 16" ish inches. And the fact we got a full on snow and sleet blizzard for nearly 65 hours was pretty unique and memorable. Plus we got like 3 days off from school which never happened from a snowstorm. It was always a day off and maybe a delay the second if you're lucky.

I do feel like if that repeated in 2026 there would be a lot of meltdowns on this forum. Not knowing anything about models and forecasting back then i think saved me a bit from being overly invested in huge amounts. 

[The 4 Seasons]

Just now, SouthCoastMA said:

Like everyone, I do remember it trending north on each news broadcast, and seeing the rain/snow graphics along the south coast being introduced I know I was toast as a young 17 yo weenie. Lets get this again but capture it about 75-100 miles south. 

Yeah i remember TWC graphics going from an all snow icon to the wintry mix icon knew we were about to get screwed. But it wasn't that bad after all. Kocin was nervous as hell on air. 

Even with the "meh" snowfall totals and shitty accumulations near the coast it was still truly a beast superstorm that completely stalled for days