Worcester Hit by Blizzard with 16 Inches of Snow, 50 MPH Winds

Plow drivers faced challenging conditions clearing the heavy snowfall and drifts.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A powerful winter storm brought 16 inches of snow and wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour to Worcester, Massachusetts on Monday. The city saw more than half its average February snowfall in a single day, with plow drivers struggling to clear the heavy snow and large drifts caused by the strong winds.

Why it matters

Blizzards of this magnitude can cause significant disruptions to transportation, power, and daily life in the affected region. The high winds and heavy snowfall can make driving treacherous, down power lines, and force school and business closures.

The details

According to local resident and airline pilot Matthew Grimaladi, who has a degree in meteorology, the last time the Worcester area saw a storm of this magnitude was in 2013, when the region received between 20 and 30 inches of snow. Grimaladi said the current storm is "a big one" and compares it to the blizzard that hit Long Island, where he was living at the time, in 2013.

  • The blizzard hit Worcester, Massachusetts on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Matthew Grimaladi

A Worcester area resident, airline pilot, and meteorology degree holder who provided context on the severity of the current storm compared to past blizzards in the region.

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What they’re saying

“This is a big one. The last time I can remember anything similar to this was 2013. We got about three feet on Long Island, where I was living at the time, and prior to that was probably '96.”

— Matthew Grimaladi, Resident, Pilot, Meteorologist (whdh.com)

The takeaway

The powerful blizzard that hit Worcester, Massachusetts is a stark reminder of the disruptive potential of major winter storms, underscoring the need for municipalities to have robust emergency preparedness and response plans to ensure public safety and minimize the impact on daily life.