Colder Weather Returns to New England After Powerful Storm Impacts East Coast
New England faced a bracing return to colder temperatures as a powerful storm made its way up the East Coast, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm brought strong gusts that knocked out power, heavy rain that broke records, and warmer temperatures that melted snow and left ski resorts dampened.
An atmospheric river carried moisture from the tropics, resulting in heavy rain that inundated the region on Wednesday. Portland, Maine, saw a record-breaking 2.33 inches (5.92 centimeters) of rain, surpassing a record set back in 1887, according to the National Weather Service.
Utility workers scrambled to address power outages caused by the intense winds that peaked Wednesday night into Thursday. Reports indicated that nearly 90,000 customers in Maine were without power as a result of the storm.
Derek Schroeter, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, attributed the fierce winds to a deepening low-pressure system that swept through the area. Wind gusts exceeding 50 mph (80 kph) were reported in some parts of Maine.
The threat of bombogenesis, or a “bomb cyclone,” loomed as forecasters monitored the storm’s rapid intensification over a 24-hour period. Jen Roberts, co-owner of Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier, Vermont, expressed dismay over the sudden turn of events that disrupted a promising week of snowfall. She acknowledged the unpredictable nature of New England’s weather, remarking, “But you know, this is New England. We know this is what happens.”
Ski resort operators shared Roberts’ sentiment, labeling the situation as bad luck, especially with the holiday season approaching. Jamie Cobbett, marketing director at Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire, humorously avoided mentioning the “r-word” and instead referred to the inclement weather as “moist wet weather,” vowing to restore the mountain to its former glory.
Despite the challenging conditions, skiers like Marcus Caston found joy in the soft snow created by the rain. Caston remarked, “The conditions are actually pretty good. The rain is making the snow nice and soft. It’s super fun,” as he navigated the slopes at Vermont’s Sugarbush.
As New England braced for the return of more seasonal temperatures conducive to snowmaking, other regions across the United States faced their own weather challenges. Heavy lake-effect snow was forecasted in parts of Michigan, while bitter cold gripped the Upper Midwest. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in several counties in anticipation of heavy snowfall from Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.
The storm’s impact on New England brought a mix of freezing rain, heavy downpours, and warmer temperatures, providing a vivid display of the region’s unpredictable weather patterns. Boston college student Alex Hobbs expressed concerns about potential travel delays as she planned her journey back to San Francisco amid the turbulent weather
