10 Terrifying And Deadly Storms That Have Gone Down In Massachusetts History

Hurricane Bob struck Massachusetts on August 19, 1991. Though Bob wasn't the strongest or the most long-lasting storm to sweep through the state, this hurricane resulted in property damages totalling more than $39 million. This storm caused more than $2.16 billion in damages across New England, which made it the second costliest storm of all time in the United States. Southeast Massachusetts faced winds between 75 and 100 mph, while Brewster and Truro saw gusts around 125 mph! The storm caused Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket to permanently lose around 50 feet for shoreline.

What made this storm so nasty was its timing. Massachusetts was gearing up for spring when this storm hit; many shops had already put away their winter wares, plows were not active, and residents had already put out patio furniture. Striking between March 31 and April 1, this blizzard left thousands of people without power and deposited over three feet of snow on the ground.

This massive storm actually crossed the Atlantic Ocean and wreaked havoc in Great Britain after it was finished in New England. Conditions in Massachusetts during this late January storm were actually whiteout in some areas, and near-whiteout in many others. Multiple major traffic arteries were either completely impassable for days or only partially cleared. Snow drift accumulation was over 10 feet in many places.

Though this storm affected all of New England, Massachusetts coastal towns were some of the hardest hit areas. Nantucket saw ocean surges of up to 25 feet. Central Massachusetts received over 20 inches of snow, and over 90% of flights in and out of all Massachusetts airports were cancelled for days following the storm.