View source for Southern New England ice storm of 1973

{{more footnotes needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox winter storm
|name=Southern New England ice storm of 1973
|stormtype=Ice Storm
|date formed=December 16, 1973
|date dissipated=December 17, 1973
|maximum amount=1 inch of ice, 3-5 inches of rain, 18 inches of snow
|pressure=992 mbar
|total damages (USD)=
|total fatalities=
|power outages=180,000 at peak of storm
|areas affected= [[Connecticut]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Rhode Island]].
}}
The '''Southern New England ice storm of 1973''' was a [[winter storm]] that caused considerable damage to trees and power lines in parts of [[Connecticut]], [[Massachusetts]], and [[Rhode Island]].  It also affected [[New York (state)|New York]] State.
==Initial storm==
A low pressure area formed over the southeastern [[United States]] and moved towards the northeast. It moved out into the western [[Atlantic Ocean]] and followed the east coast of the United States to just east of [[New Jersey]] and south of [[New England]]. Southern [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts]], [[Bristol County, Massachusetts]] and [[Cape Cod, Massachusetts]] received three to five inches of rain in 24 hours that flooded basements, roadways and low-lying areas. Over the interior of southern [[New England]], cold dense air was entrenched at the surface, and a northerly wind continued to reinforce the cold air.  The storm then proceeded north through [[New England]] into [[Canada]].
==Aftermath==
Massachusetts was the hardest hit.  At the peak of the storm, 100,000 homes and businesses were without power, and 4,000 homes were without heat, some for as long as 24 hours. Emergency shelters opened in [[Foster, Rhode Island]] and [[Scituate, Rhode Island]]. There was some street and cellar flooding. Total damage in Rhode Island was estimated at more than $500,000 USD in 1973 dollars.
Massachusetts also reported much damage.  At the peak of the storm, 80,000 homes and businesses were without power, including 80% of [[Sudbury, Massachusetts]].  The mayor of [[Marlboro, Massachusetts]] declared a state of emergency.  20 streets in [[Wrentham, Massachusetts]] were impassable due to downed trees and utilities.  A 206-foot radio tower in [[Framingham, Massachusetts]] collapsed from the weight of ice. In [[Arlington, Massachusetts]], 35 trees were destroyed, and many old shade trees were destroyed in [[Concord, Massachusetts|Concord]].  Total damage in Massachusetts was estimated at between $500,000 USD and $5,000,000 USD in 1973 dollars.  It was the worse icing in Massachusetts since December 1968.
[[New York (state)|New York]] was spared the worst of the storm.  The state's southeast area received five to ten inches of snow; its north, six to twelve inches; and central New York received ten to eighteen inches. On [[Long Island]], 250,000 residents lost power, some for up to several days. Ice on the third rail of the [[Long Island Railroad]] left passengers marooned on trains for seven to ten hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/23/archives/winters-first-bite-takes-toll-on-li.html?_r=0|title=Winter's First Bite Takes Toll on L.I. |date=December 23, 1973 |work=New York Times|accessdate=December 17, 2016}}</ref>
The 1994 novel ''[[The Ice Storm (novel)|The Ice Storm]]'' takes place over Thanksgiving weekend 1973, during a dangerous ice storm.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency" group="Environmental Data Service">{{cite web|title=Storm Data|url=http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS-C55E2885-A053-4692-8D2C-FEDC18B07CE5.pdf|publisher=Department of Commerce|accessdate=6 December 2012}}
*"National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency" group="NOAA Central Library Data Imaging Project when using the Daily weather maps.">{{cite web|title=Weekly Weather Maps December 10–16 & December 17–23|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/dwm/data_rescue_daily_weather_maps.html|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=6 December 2012}}
{{United States winter storms}}
[[Category:1973 natural disasters in the United States]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Rhode Island]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Natural disasters in Massachusetts|storm]]
[[Category:Ice storms in the United States|1973]]
[[Category:1973 meteorology]]