The Blizzard of ’26

As I write this, we’re on day 4 of storm and storm recovery. I am sure many of you are still digging out from the storm, ensuring your home and family members are safe. There is, of course, danger lurking in these storms: downed power lines, cold brought on by the lack of heat, and restricted access for those who need daily care. We hope everyone is doing well. If you still need assistance, please reach out, our community comes together in times like this!

The power of mother nature often leaves behind some beauty as well. The woods are snow covered and quiet, the fresh fallen snow is marked by bird and animal tracks, and the snowy world is a playground for all to enjoy. Igloos anyone?

Poor Man’s Fertilizer

Three feet of snow is roughly the equivalent of nearly 3+ inches of rain. For Westport’s agricultural fields, that moisture will replenish dry soils and add minerals for spring plantings. Snow cover provides a slow release of moisture, appropriately saturating the soils. More than an old wives’ tale, deep snow makes good fertilizer, slowly releasing the nitrogen the crystals captured in the atmosphere.

Slowing Run-Off

Southern Massachusetts has been in Significant Drought status since 2024. While there was plentiful rain last winter, the run-off was quick, filling streams and the Bay, but not soaking into our thirsty ground. The slower snow melt provides forests and wetlands with much needed moisture that often moves too quickly through their systems. As the ground warms up in the next few days, that melt will soak into our woodlands and grasslands, encouraging the new season’s growth.

Snow will melt into wood frogs’ calls

All that melt should mean a bounty of vernal pools, increasing wildlife activity (including wood frogs) around them. The forest comes alive in the Spring when vernal pools are active, setting the tone for the warmer season. 

In the fields and woods, gardens and grasslands, the snow won’t last long, but it will leave behind benefits for the seasons to come.