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Remembering the December Debacle of 2007

The December Debacle of 2007 was one of the most memorable days of my 14 year stint at WLNE-TV ABC6. We were expecting a quick-hitting moderate snowstorm on a Thursday afternoon and evening. To be honest, I can’t remember every detail of the forecast or storm, but I know that all hell broke loose by mid-afternoon. It was snowing by noon, and the flakes stuck immediately. Children, all of whom had been sent to school, were dismissed from school early. The ensuing traffic jam reached epic proportions throughout all of Southern New England. In many ways, this was the perfect storm.

There is concern that people stuck in cars on paralyzed highways will run out of gas. And while the snowfall is minor compared to the Blizzard of ’78, Providence police Sgt. Paul Zienowicz said “it’s almost comparable” in the fact that businesses and other institutions dismissed employees early — which caused massive congestion — and some of those people abandoned cars after getting stuck in hours-long traffic jams. – Providence Journal Blog on December 13, 2007

There were many more school buses on the road than usual in the early-afternoon, and most people either decided to leave work early, or head to work early putting the usual 4-6 pm rush hour way ahead of schedule. So, when you put all those people on the roads, and the snow is coming down at 1-2″ per hour, there is no way to effectively clear the roads. Traffic was snarled, the snow mounted, and so did the frustrations of anyone stuck in their car. Trips that normally took 30 minutes took 6 or more hours.

Some kids were left stranded on school buses until late in the evening. In fact, one of those school buses was stuck not far from the ABC6 studio, and by mid-evening our GM, Steve Doerr, made the brilliant decision to head down the street and offer to bring the kids into the ABC6 building to let them warm up and get something to eat. It was one of those times where a TV station really served the public’s need!

It was also Allison Alexander’s first day on the air. It was not supposed to be. She was visiting the station and was scheduled to start in early-January. Once again, Doerr made the executive decision to put Allison on the air because he knew the audience would be a lot bigger than normal. We spent several hours doing wall to wall coverage, it was one of the few times that we outlasted WPRI and WJAR with our storm coverage.

Buddy Cianci was talking about the “politics of snow” and how the perceived failure of the city of Providence to clear the streets was going to come back and bite Mayor Cicilline. I say perceived failure because I don’t really blame the DOT or the local towns and cities. It is very difficult for snowplows to clear the streets if they’re already jammed with cars, and there was no way that any amount of pretreating was going to keep the snow from piling up because it came down at such a spectacular rate for a few hours. Of course, had I been stuck in traffic instead of covering the storm, I may have a different take on it. I would love hear your thoughts on that day in the comment section at the bottom of the page.

By the way, it wasn’t just RI that was severely impacted by that storm. The situation in Boston was pretty bad, too.

Here are the snow totals from that quick-hitting storm.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
323 PM EST FRI DEC 14 2007

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN DURING THE PAST 36 
HOURS FOR THE STORM THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTING OUR REGION.  
APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE 
OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS.  THIS 
SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT

CONNECTICUT

...HARTFORD COUNTY...
   NORTH GRANBY          12.5   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   UNIONVILLE            12.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   BURLINGTON            11.0   746 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   GLASTONBURY           11.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   GRANBY                11.0   714 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   MANCHESTER            11.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SOUTH WINDSOR         11.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WEST GRANBY           11.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WEST HARTFORD         11.0   630 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WINDSOR LOCKS         10.5   700 PM 12/13   AIR NATIONAL GUARD
   NEW BRITAIN           10.3   600 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SUFFIELD              10.3   600 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SIMSBURY              10.2   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   BRISTOL               10.0   714 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   ENFIELD               10.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WETHERSFIELD           9.8   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   KENSINGTON             9.5   906 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   EAST FARMINGTON        9.0   621 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   EAST HARTFORD          9.0   620 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...TOLLAND COUNTY...
   TOLLAND               11.1   941 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   ELLINGTON             11.0   857 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   VERNON                10.1   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   STAFFORD SPRINGS      10.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   STAFFORDVILLE         10.0   834 PM 12/13   NWS COOP
   WILLINGTON            10.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   STORRS                 9.5   555 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...WINDHAM COUNTY...
   WOODSTOCK             12.0   941 AM 12/14   
   POMFRET CENTER        10.5   841 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   THOMPSON              10.5   945 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   ASHFORD               10.0   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   MOOSUP                10.0   802 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   POMFRET                9.8   930 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   HAMPTON                9.5   728 PM 12/13   NWS COOP
   KILLINGLY              9.0   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

MASSACHUSETTS

...BARNSTABLE COUNTY...
   SANDWICH               8.0   758 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   BOURNE                 7.9   848 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   EAST FALMOUTH          5.3   637 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WEST DENNIS            5.2   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WEST BARNSTABLE        5.0   649 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   BREWSTER               4.8   701 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   CHATHAM                4.1   730 PM 12/13   UPPER AIR SITE
   CHATHAM                4.1   240 PM 12/14   NWS

...BRISTOL COUNTY...
   BERKLEY               12.0   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   NORTON                11.6   234 PM 12/14   NWS EMPLOYEE
   TAUNTON               11.6   900 PM 12/13   NWS OFFICE
   WEST MANSFIELD        11.5   902 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   MANSFIELD             11.3   838 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   REHOBOTH              11.3   808 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   NORTH ATTLEBORO       11.0   855 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   ATTLEBORO             10.5   908 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   DIGHTON               10.3   927 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   EAST TAUNTON           9.0   620 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   FALL RIVER             8.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SOMERSET               8.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   NEW BEDFORD            7.0   815 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   ACUSHNET               6.5   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   FAIRHAVEN              6.0   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   NORTH DARTMOUTH        6.0   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   DARTMOUTH              4.5   630 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

...DUKES COUNTY...
   WEST TISBURY           3.0   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

...ESSEX COUNTY...
   BOXFORD               12.5  1038 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WEST PEABODY          10.3   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   GLOUCESTER             9.5   847 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SWAMPSCOTT             9.5   139 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   SALEM                  9.2   810 PM 12/13   SALEM STATE
   MANCHESTER             9.1  1045 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   ROCKPORT               9.0  1000 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   MARBLEHEAD             8.7   912 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   TOPSFIELD              8.5  1012 PM 12/13   SPOTTE
   LYNN                   8.3   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   PEABODY                8.0   815 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   IPSWICH                7.9  1022 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   GEORGETOWN             7.5   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   METHUEN                7.5   810 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NEWBURYPORT            7.0   228 PM 12/14   COOP
   DOWNTOWN LAWRENCE      6.8   229 PM 12/14   COOP
   HAVERHILL              5.0   124 PM 12/14  

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   WHATELY               11.0   711 AM 12/13  
   ASHFIELD              10.0   811 AM 12/14  
   LEVERETT               9.4   830 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   GREENFIELD             9.0   142 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   SHELBURNE FALLS        9.0   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SUNDERLAND             8.9   145 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   ORANGE                 8.8   801 PM 12/13  
   EAST CHARLEMONT        8.5   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTHFIELD             6.5   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SHELBURNE              3.0   224 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   PALMER                11.0   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   LONGMEADOW            10.7   825 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   EAST LONGMEADOW       10.5   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   EAST LONGMEADOW       10.5   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SOUTHWICK             10.2   808 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   MONTGOMERY            10.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WALES                 10.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WEST SPRINGFIELD      10.0   750 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WESTFIELD             10.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WILBRAHAM             10.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   BLANDFORD              9.5   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   CHICOPEE               9.5   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   CHESTER                9.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   AGAWAM                 8.5   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   CHESTERFIELD          10.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WORTHINGTON            9.8   147 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   AMHERST                9.0   157 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   WARE                   9.0   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WESTHAMPTON            9.0   855 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   FLORENCE               8.5   803 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...
   MAYNARD               11.0   228 PM 12/14   COOP
   ARLINGTON HEIGHTS     10.5   243 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   BELMONT               10.0   900 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NATICK                10.0   202 PM 12/14  
   WAKEFIELD              9.5   833 AM 12/14  
   NEWTON                 9.3   846 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTH WOBURN           9.3   357 AM 12/14  
   SOMERVILLE             9.3   900 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   CONCORD                9.2  1018 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   PEPPERELL              9.2   630 AM 12/14  
   ARLINGTON              9.0   845 PM 12/13   MEDIA
   HUDSON                 9.0   940 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   STONEHAM               9.0   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WALTHAM                9.0   910 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WAYLAND                9.0   803 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   CAMBRIDGE              8.9   959 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTH CAMBRIDGE        8.7   717 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WESTFORD               8.7   945 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   READING                8.6   830 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   AYER                   8.5   934 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   LOWELL                 8.2   907 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   TYNGSBOROUGH           8.2  1008 PM 12/13  
   DRACUT                 7.8  1253 AM 12/14  
   SHIRLEY                7.8   725 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   TOWNSEND               7.8   718 AM 12/14  
   MELROSE                7.5   940 AM 12/14   
   LINCOLN                4.0   350 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

...NORFOLK COUNTY...
   NORWOOD               10.7   915 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   SOUTH WEYMOUTH        10.5   936 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WALPOLE               10.5   227 PM 12/14  
   FOXBORO               10.2   902 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   FOXBOROUGH            10.2   246 PM 12/14   NWS EMPLOYEE
   BRAINTREE             10.0   840 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WRENTHAM              10.0   700 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   NEEDHAM                9.5   950 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   FRANKLIN               9.4   810 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WELLESLEY HILLS        9.1   141 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   WEST WALPOLE           8.5   714 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO

...PLYMOUTH COUNTY...
   WHITMAN               13.0   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   HANSON                12.3   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   BRIDGEWATER           12.0   230 PM 12/14   COOP
   MIDDLEBORO            11.6   825 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   PLYMPTON              11.5   910 PM 12/13   MEDIA
   WEST BRIDGEWATER      11.3   945 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   CARVER                11.2   950 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   HULL                  11.0   850 PM 12/13   MEDIA
   KINGSTON              11.0   856 PM 12/13   NWS COOP
   MARSHFIELD            11.0   900 PM 12/13   RETIRED NWS EMPLOYEE
   NORWELL               11.0   910 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   PLYMOUTH              10.5   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SCITUATE              10.5   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WEST DUXBURY          10.5   714 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   HINGHAM               10.3   943 PM 12/13   NWS COOP
   ROCHESTER              8.3   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WAREHAM                8.3   656 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   DUXBURY                7.0   603 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
   EAST BOSTON           10.1   911 PM 12/13   LOGAN AIRPORT
   WINTHROP               9.9   800 AM 12/14  
   BOSTON COMMON          9.5   753 PM 12/13   BACK BAY NWS EMPLOYEE
   ALLSTON                9.0  1015 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   BOSTON                 9.0   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...WORCESTER COUNTY...
   WEST WARREN           10.5   126 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   AUBURN                 9.9   810 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTH GRAFTON          9.8  1028 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SHREWSBURY             9.8   822 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   HOLDEN                 9.5   959 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   LANCASTER              9.5   947 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SOUTHBRIDGE            9.5   820 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WARREN                 9.5   630 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   ASHBURNHAM             9.3   158 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   MILFORD                9.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   SPENCER                9.0   900 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   FITCHBURG              8.7   719 AM 12/14  
   NORTHBRIDGE            8.7   201 PM 12/14   COOP
   HARDWICK               8.5   200 PM 12/14   COOP
   WORCESTER              8.4   630 PM 12/13   AIRPORT
   ROYALSTON              6.9   648 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WESTMINSTER            2.0   245 PM 12/13  

NEW HAMPSHIRE

...CHESHIRE COUNTY...
   KEENE                 12.0   841 PM 12/13   NWS COOP
   SWANZEY                8.0   745 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   WINCHESTER             7.3   903 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WINCHESTER             7.3   246 PM 12/14   SPOTTER
   NORTH WALPOLE          6.0   241 PM 12/14   COOP
   ALSTEAD                4.7   612 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY...
   NASHUA                 8.5  1005 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   FRANCESTOWN            8.0   241 PM 12/14   COOP
   HUDSON                 7.5  1002 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   PETERBOROUGH           7.5   937 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   BEDFORD                7.2   930 PM 12/13  
   MERRIMACK              7.0  1010 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   WILTON                 6.5   925 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SOUTH WEARE            6.2   820 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   GREENFIELD             6.1   910 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

RHODE ISLAND

...BRISTOL COUNTY...
   BARRINGTON             7.5   859 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...KENT COUNTY...
   EAST GREENWICH         8.0   925 PM 12/13   MEDIA
   WARWICK                8.0   824 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   COVENTRY               7.0   940 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...NEWPORT COUNTY...
   PORTSMOUTH             5.5   736 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...PROVIDENCE COUNTY...
   BURRILLVILLE          13.0   846 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   LINCOLN               12.0   830 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   NORTH FOSTER          11.5   830 PM 12/13   NWS CO-OP
   CRANSTON              11.0   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTH PROVIDENCE      11.0   844 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   NORTH SMITHFIELD      11.0   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   PAWTUCKET             10.9   800 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   JOHNSTON              10.3   923 PM 12/13   NWS EMPLOYEE
   JOHNSTON              10.3   245 PM 12/14   NWS EMPLOYEE
   CUMBERLAND            10.0   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   PROVIDENCE            10.0   800 PM 12/13   SPOTTER FEDERAL HILL
   WOONSOCKET            10.0  1000 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   EAST PROVIDENCE        9.5  1055 PM 12/13   MEDIA
   MOOSUP VALLEY          9.0   926 PM 12/13   SPOTTER
   SCITUATE               8.0   832 PM 12/13   SPOTTER

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
   SAUNDERSTOWN           5.5   900 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
   HOPKINTON              3.3   630 PM 12/13   HAM RADIO
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