This isn't the first blizzard, nor the last blizzard, that's hit eastern New England. This storm was one for the record books, but it has good company with several previous storms.
The Blue Hills Weather Observatory's records only go back to 1885.
National Weather Service records go back to 1892.
In recent times, they've also changed how they measure snow.
The snow total was high because it was also colder - meaning that the ratio of snow to liquid water (aka fluff factor) was also higher.
Official Boston snow totals are usually lower than surrounding town because the measurements are taken at Logan Airport, close to the ocean, where the air is slightly warmer, with reduced fluff factor.
The real story with this storm was the wind, the cold, the banding, and rapid pressure drop, though it was the snow totals that made for great media headlines.
Until the Government builds a weather machine that can moderate weather like a thermostat, storms will keep happening, just as they have for millennia.
If 30 inches of snow in January gets your panties in a bunch, move to Florida ... though Florida doesn't want any more people from the Northeast moving there.


