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Photos: Snowstorm pummels western Mass., leaves Boston soggy

Lisa Creamer

March 14, 2023

A woman’s umbrella is blown open in the wind while walking through Copley Square. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

A powerful nor'easter has dumped more than two feet of snow across parts of western Massachusetts. While snow impacts are far more limited in Boston, residents in the city slogged through dense downpours in chilly temperatures much of Tuesday.

While the storm affected much of the Northeast, the state of road travel was highly variable. In Massachusetts, areas west of I-495 saw the most significant problems with heavy snowfall and white-out conditions.

Plows, at right, try to pass nearly stopped traffic, due to weather conditions, on Route 93 South in Londonderry, N.H. (Charles Krupa/AP) — Plows, at right, try to pass nearly stopped traffic, due to weather conditions, on Route 93 south in Londonderry, N.H. (Charles Krupa/AP)

Ultimately, Boston was expected to see up to four inches of total snow accumulation by the storm's end at around 11 p.m., according to meteorologist Danielle Noyes.

Coastal areas saw less snow, but were affected by significant wind gusts up to 60 mph. Minor coastal flooding was also expected near this evening's high tide.

For many Bostonians, the absence of snow has largely defined this (arguably freakishly) warm winter, prompting residents to question how climate change and future snowless winters might do to the New England identity.

Existential questions aside, on Tuesday, there was weather to contend with in the final weeks of winter. Here are some scenes from the latest snowstorm.

Joe Senckowski, of Oakham, Mass., uses a snow blower to remove snow from a sidewalk near All Saints Church, left in Worcester, Mass. (Steven Senne/AP)

Two people with umbrellas brace themselves as they attempt walking down St. James Avenue during the storm. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) — Two people with umbrellas brace themselves as they attempt walking down St. James Avenue in Boston during the storm. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

A man holds his hood down walking into the wind down St. James Avenue in the windy wintery mix of rain and snow. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) — A man holds his hood down walking into the wind down St. James Avenue in the windy wintry mix of rain and snow. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

Brent Walton, of Worcester, Mass., right, shovels slush and snow, in front of the apartment building where he lives while a passerby, left, looks on in Worcester. (Steven Senne/AP) — Brent Walton, of Worcester, right, shovels slush and snow, in front of the apartment building where he lives while a passerby, left, looks on in Worcester. (Steven Senne/AP)

A woman holds her hood down against the storm's fierce and wet winds as she walks in Copley Square. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)