Great Southern New England Storms of the 20th Century

Virtually every kind of weather has, does, and will again pass through Southern New England. Often, the battle zone between cold, Canadian air to the north and warm, moist air to the south is played out right here. Add to that, the rich moisture source of The Atlantic Ocean to the east and the relatively nearby mountains of Western MA., VT., N.H. and ME, and the stage is set for some of Mother Nature's greatest battles.

In this presentation, I will take a look at and discuss three of the most powerful storms to hit this region in the 20th century: The Hurricane of '38, The Worcester Tornado (June 9, 1953), and The Blizzard of '78.

By examining The Hurricane of '38, we will gain an appreciation of just how devastating a New England Hurricane can be, and we will learn some of the unique characteristics a hurricane can have this far north. We will also come to realize how far hurricane forecasting has come since then.

Just over a year ago, a devastating tornado hit Springfield, MA. For those old enough to remember, it brought back memories of The 1953 Worcester Tornado, which took 94 lives in 84 minutes, dispelling the myth that major tornadoes can't strike New England.

Snowstorms and Nor'easters are common to New Englanders, but some can become extreme, burying cities and towns, and devastating coastal communities. We will look at all the factors that came together to produce The Blizzard of '78.