A cold frontal boundary dropped south of New England on the evening of the 10th. Low pressure developed along the frontal boundary across the southeastern states late on the night of the 10th into the 11th.  The low then tracked rapidly to the northeast, spreading a significant amount of precipitation into New England. A deep layer of warm air aloft and sub-freezing air at the surface resulted in a major ice storm across interior Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire as well as much of northern New England.
The hardest hit areas in southern New England were the Monadnock region of southwest New Hampshire, the Worcester Hills in central Massachusetts, and the east slopes of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Anywhere from half an inch to an inch of ice accreted on many exposed surfaces. Especially when combined with breezy conditions, the ice downed numerous trees, branches, and power lines which resulted in widespread power outages. More than 300,000 customers were reportedly without power in Massachusetts and an additional 300,000 were without power in the state of New Hampshire. Because of the breadth of this storm (from Pennsylvania to Maine), extra crews to reinstate power were harder to come by.  Power crews from states as far away as South Carolina, as well as local National Guard teams, were called out to help with power restoration and clean up.  While most people had their power restored within a week, others were still without power at Christmas (nearly 2 weeks later). During this period, temperatures were mostly below normal and at least one major snowstorm affected the same area.  At the time of the December 19th snowstorm, over 100,000 customers were still without power in the two states combined.  Most communities had opened shelters to provide a warm, safe place for residents.  According to the numbers reported in local newspapers, most did not take advantage of this opportunity and chose to remain in their homes, using wood stoves or generators for heat.  Many schools, a week and a half from the winter holiday break at the time of the storm, cancelled school for the remainder of the month because of a lack of electricity and clear routes for transporting students.
A public works employee, supervising storm clean up in Marlborough, went missing during his shift and was found dead two days later in a reservoir.  Because this occurred as a part of his job, following the storm, it was considered an indirect fatality.  Damage to the infrastructure in Massachusetts and New Hampshire amounted to roughly eighty million dollars.  This amount does not include damage to private property, which was unavailable at the time of this report.  The extent of the damage and number of people affected prompted the governors of both Massachusetts and New Hampshire to request federal assistance.  FEMA approved both requests.  President Bush issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance for seven Massachusetts counties and all of New Hampshire.

Ice Storm in WESTERN ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 10:32:00 to 12-DEC-08 08:56:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Half an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across interior Essex County.  Trees, large limbs, and wires down in Haverhill, Andover, Groveland, Methuen, Merrimack, West Newbury, and North Andover.  In Groveland, a windshield was destroyed by falling ice.

Ice Storm in NORTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 02:52:00 to 12-DEC-08 04:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Up to an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces resulting in the downing of numerous trees, branches, power and phone poles, and wires across northern Worcester County.  Many of these trees fell on cars and houses and blocked roads, resulting in the closure of some of the roads.

Ice Storm in WESTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 03:19:00 to 11-DEC-08 22:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Half an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces in western Franklin County.  Trees and wires were downed in Ashfield, Buckland, and Shelburne.

Ice Storm in WESTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 03:37:00 to 12-DEC-08 05:37:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces throughout western Hampshire County.  Trees, large limbs and wires were downed in Cummington, Chesterfield, Worthington, Goshen, and Middlefield.

Ice Storm in EASTERN HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 03:41:00 to 12-DEC-08 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Numerous trees, limbs, and wires were downed in Pelham, Belchertown,  and Amherst.

Ice Storm in NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 04:01:00 to 12-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across northwest Middlesex County.  Trees and large limbs were downed in Groton and Pepperell blocking many roads.

Ice Storm in WESTERN HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 04:30:00 to 12-DEC-08 07:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 1.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across western Hampden County.  Trees, large limbs, and wires were downed in Blandford, Chester, and Tolland.

Ice Storm in EASTERN FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 04:39:00 to 11-DEC-08 22:30:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Half an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across eastern Franklin County.  Trees, wires, and a utility pole were downed in Greenfield, Sunderland, and Warwick.

Ice Storm in SOUTHERN WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 06:51:00 to 12-DEC-08 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Up to six tenths of an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across southern Worcester County.  Trees, large limbs, and wires down in Worcester, Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Oxford, Worcester, and Shrewsbury.  Several trees landed on houses and one landed on a boat.

Ice Storm in WESTERN MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 11-DEC-08 08:56:00 to 12-DEC-08 09:03:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 3.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three-quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on exposed surfaces across western Middlesex County.  Trees and wires down in Littleton, Westford, Chelmsford, Groton, Acton, Hudson, Billerica, Lowell, Dracut, and Marlborough.  Some of the power lines that were downed wrapped around a tractor trailer on Route 118.

High Wind in EASTERN NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 12-DEC-08 08:47:00 to 12-DEC-08 08:47:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 58.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Blue Hill Observatory (KMQE) recorded a wind gust of 67 mph.  No damage was reported.

Flood in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 12-DEC-08 07:32:00 to 12-DEC-08 14:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILLBURY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A car was stuck in flood waters on Sutton Avenue in Northbridge.  The Blackstone River at Millbury overflowed its banks near Route 146, flooding portions of the northbound lanes.  The intersection of Routes 140 and 122A was flooded after the Blackstone River overflowed its banks in Grafton.  The Mill River in Mendon overflowed its banks flooding the Bellingham Street Bridge.

Flood in BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 12-DEC-08 08:40:00 to 12-DEC-08 13:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ASSONET
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

The Assonet River overflowed out of its banks flooding homes on Main Street in Assonet.  The Buffington Brook in Somerset overflowed its banks flooding Route 138.  The Acushnet Department of Public Works was flooded because of poor drainage.  The Palmer River in Rehoboth overflowed its banks flooding River Road.  In addition, the Wolf Run River overflowed its banks flooding Rocky Hill Road, also in Rehoboth.

Flood in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 12-DEC-08 09:20:00 to 12-DEC-08 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BILLERICA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Jones Brook in Billerica overflowed its banks flooding a home.