An historic winter storm brought heavy snow to southern New England with blizzard conditions to much of Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts, beginning during the day on Monday, January 26 and lasting into the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 27.  The highest snowfall totals, averaging two to three feet, extended from extreme northeast Connecticut and northwest Rhode Island into much of central and northeast Massachusetts, including greater Boston.  Some of the highest totals reported include Hudson, MA (36 inches), Acton, MA (34 inches), Thompson, CT (33.5 inches), and Methuen, MA (31.5 inches).  Much of southeast Massachusetts and the rest of Rhode Island received one to two feet of snow.  Totals dropped off dramatically west of the Connecticut River Valley where totals of 4 to 8 inches were observed.
The storm was well-forecast, with Blizzard Watches and Winter Storm Watches issued 2 days before the snow began.  Low pressure tracked northeast from the Carolinas and strengthened rapidly as it slowly passed southeast of Nantucket on Monday evening, January 26.  All of the precipitation fell as snow with this storm.  At its peak, snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour were common.  In Massachusetts, blizzard conditions were officially reported in Marshfield (14 hours), Hyannis (13 hours), Nantucket (11 hours), Boston (9 hours), Chatham (9 hours), Worcester (7 hours), and Beverly (3 hours).  In Rhode Island, blizzard conditions were officially reported in Westerly (5 hours), Newport (4 hours), and at T.F. Green State Airport in Warwick (3 hours).  Several other locations fell just short of the required criteria (3 consecutive hours of blizzard conditions) including Fitchburg, New Bedford, Falmouth, and Martha���s Vineyard in Massachusetts and Smithfield in Rhode Island.
Daily snowfall records were set for January 27 in Boston (22.1 inches, previous record 8.8 inches in 2011), Worcester (31.9 inches, previous record 11.0 in 2011), and Providence (16.0 inches, previous record 6.7 inches in 2011).  In Worcester, the snowfall total of 34.5 inches was the greatest on record (dating back to 1892), breaking the previous record of 33.0 inches on March 31 to April 1, 1997.  In Providence, the total of 19.1 inches was the fourth highest on record (dating back to 1904), while in Boston the total of 24.6 inches was the sixth highest on record (dating back to 1872).
The Blizzard of January 2015 produced very strong winds late Monday into Tuesday near the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts where gusts of 50 to 65 mph were common.  Gusts reached hurricane force at a few locations in Massachusetts including Nantucket (78 mph), Chatham (75 mph), Humarock (74 mph), and Aquinnah (74 mph).
The Governor of Rhode Island declared a state wide travel ban beginning at midnight on January 27th and continuing through 8 pm. The few cars/drivers who did not obey the travel ban became stuck.  A RI Department of Transportation vehicle flipped over during the storm as well.
Several fatalities occurred as a result of the storm.  These included: a 68 year-old male outdoors shoveling snow on 1/27/15 and a 57 year-old male outdoors shoveling snow on 1/28/15.
President Obama issued a federal disaster declaration for the state of Rhode Island for this storm, allowing federal assistance for emergency work and repairs to facilities damaged by the storm.

Blizzard in SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 09:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions occurred at nearby T.F. Green Airport from approximately 6 am to 9 am.  Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities.  Fourteen to twenty inches of snow fell across southeastern Providence County.

Blizzard in WESTERN KENT, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions occurred at nearby T.F. Green Airport from approximately 6 am to 9 am. Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities. Approximately a foot and a half of snow fell across western Kent County.

Blizzard in EASTERN KENT, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 03:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions occurred at T.F. Green Airport from approximately 6 am to 9 am. Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities. Eleven to twenty inches of snow fell across eastern Kent County.

Blizzard in BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Blizzard conditions occurred at nearby T.F. Green Airport from approximately 6 am to 9 am. Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities.  Approximately a foot and a half of snow fell across Bristol County.

Blizzard in WASHINGTON, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 14:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 01:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard conditions occurred at Westerly State Airport from approximately 5 am to 10 am. Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities. Twelve to twenty-one inches of snow fell across Washington County.

Blizzard in NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 27-JAN-15 20:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Blizzard conditions occurred at Newport State Airport from approximately 3 am to 7 am. Outside this time frame, near blizzard conditions occurred with gusty winds and limited visibilities.  Sixteen to nineteen inches of snow fell across Newport County.  Rhode Island's tall ship, the Continental Sloop Providence, was toppled by strong wind gusts and sustained extensive damage.  The mast was broken and the hull punctured.

Heavy Snow in NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Near blizzard conditions occurred at Smithfield State Airport.  Sixteen to thirty inches of snow fell across northwestern Providence County.

Heavy Snow in BLOCK ISLAND, RHODE ISLAND
From 26-JAN-15 18:00:00 to 28-JAN-15 06:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Approximately one foot of snow fell on Block Island.