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Check out this statement from the NWS near Boston....I've never seen anything like this (8" per hour snowfall rates from a nor'easter): Winter Weather Advisory 741 am EST sun Jan 23 2005 ...Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 6 PM EST this evening... An extreme situation is occurring in eastern Massachusetts. Four inches of snow has been reported in 25 minutes at Chelmsford Massachusetts as the last excessive band of powdery snow swings southward. The North Shore is being blitzed by snowfall rates of almost 8 inches per hour. It may last only an hour or two but its probably a complete short term paralyzer. It will arrive in Boston between 830 and 930 am...continuing there until at least 11 am. It will arrive on the South Shore during midday. Final blizzard totals for most of eastern Massachusetts will range between 28 and 38 inches setting a new single storm record for Boston...surpassing the amount from the great blizzard of 78 and the presidents day storm of 2003. Isolated totals of 40 inches are possible. Vulnerable locations for nearly 40 inch storm totals are Essex...Middlesex...Plymouth... Norfolk and Barnstable counties in Massachusetts. Even if this storm comes up slightly short of record...it is a dangerous storm with the worst occurring now into early this afternoon as winds strengthen and temperatures fall to near 10 above. Nantucket may end up with only 12 to 22 inches...but blizzard conditions will descend on that island by later this morning or this afternoon. Northerly winds will be gusting around 75 or 80 mph on Barnstable and Nantucket counties. This is an extremely dangerous life threatening storm because of severe blowing and drifting of the newly fallen snow and tumbling temperatures. Scattered power outages have occurred this morning as winds all along the coast gust between 55 and 65 mph on bostons north and south shores and even on Narragansett Bay. A 78 mph wind gust was reported in East Falmouth by a spotter. Providence reported a 60 mph wind gust at 722 am. Plymouth has reported 58 mph with 67 mph at Provincetown...all since 7am. There has been isolated damage reported to the National Weather Service. Power outages may become widespread this afternoon on the cape and Nantucket when the brunt of wind hits there...again...between 75 and 80 mph. Thats hurricane force! Drifts of at least 6 feet are occurring. Over Cape Cod...Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard...the snow has been of a wetter consistency early today and there has been some rain on Nantucket. This raises the ante for power outages in extreme southeast New England with the snow clinging to wires and branches. All the heavy snow will taper to snow showers later this afternoon or evening...but considerable blowing and drifting will persist into late this evening across exposed areas. There is a chance of blizzard conditions continuing on parts of Cape Cod into early tonight as heavy snow squalls pound parts of the cape. A Blizzard Warning is issued when sustained wind speeds or frequent gusts of over 35 mph are expected with considerable falling and/or blowing and drifting snow. Whiteout conditions occur at times. Those venturing outdoors may become lost or disoriented...so persons in the warning area are advised to stay indoors. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SkiVt-L is brought to you by the University of Vermont. To unsubscribe, visit http://list.uvm.edu/archives/skivt-l.html