For the most part, the winter of 2001/2002 was a bit of a dry winter. It had been mild just after Christmas and the New Year, and fears that Nantucket might not get any snow were beginning to come together. A low pressure area was in the Appalachians on the 19th, and steadily moved eastward. The 19th on Nantucket began as a clear day, it wasn’t until 2 PM that any clouds began to filter in. Gradually the sky went from a milky haze to all out overcast.
Snow began after dark, and grew in intensity. At this time, the wind also switched; until now, the wind was out of the east-southeast. Most areas near and around Nantucket saw their snow end by 4:30 AM on the 20th. 5.5″ fell on the island. Wind was not a problem with this storm, however there was a peak wind gust of 26 mph, however unofficially there was a wind gust of 30 mph and this was recorded at Chicken Hill.
There was also a brief, and I mean brief period of rainfall. This rainfall did not melt the snow cover at all. By 10 AM, the sky was clear, and the storm was all but a distant memory.
snow contour map for SNE
radar image from the snowstorm
Stats:
Accumulation: 5.5″ Forecast: rain
Wind: 20 mph Unofficial: 30
