Alert archive / Connecticut / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1989

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 39, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

November 20, 1989Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut; Hampden County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Nov 20, 1989, 9:45 PM EST for Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut; Hampden County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 60 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Nov 20, 1989, 9:45 PM EST (02:45 UTC)
Expired
Nov 20, 1989, 10:45 PM EST
In force
60 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Hampden County, MA

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALB), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 128 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 1989-11-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 1989-11-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 249 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1035 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
70 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
249 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
324 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KBDL 210246
SVRBDL
CTC003-013-MAC013-210345-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
945 PM EST MON NOV 20 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HARTFORD HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1045 PM EST
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...
 
IN  CONNECTICUT
          ...HARTFORD...TOLLAND
IN  MASSACHUSETTS
          ...HAMPDEN
 
A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM GREENFIELD MASSACHUSETTS TO NEW
YORK CITY IS MOVING TO THE EAST AT 50 TO MPH. SOME OF THESE STORMS
HAVE PRODUCED WIND GUSTS TO 65 MPH. THESE STORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT AND HAMPDEN COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS DURING THE NEXT
HOUR.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICHKLY SO
DON'T DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Nov 20, 4:37 PM EST, 5 hours 8 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
435 PM EST MON NOV 20 1989

NASTY WINTRY WEATHER IS ON THE HORIZON FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND.

SHOWERS TONIGHT WILL CHANGE TO SNOW AND FLURRIES ACROSS ALL OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT THE CAPE AND ISLANDS. THE CHANGEOVER
SHOULD OCCUR IN THE BERKSHIRES BETWEEN 10 PM AND 1 AM AND ELSEWHERE
BETWEEN 1 AND 4 AM TUESDAY.

THE COMBINATION OF A BRIEF BURST OF HEAVY SNOW EARLY TUESDAY MORNING
COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES FALLING TO FREEZING SHOULD ICE UP MANY
ROADS.  TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BECOME HAZARDOUS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS
NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS WHERE TO 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS FORECAST TO
BE ON THE GROUND BY DAYBREAK. THUNDERSTORMS MAY ACCOMPANY THE SNOW AND
SLEET BURST OVER EXTREME NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS TO 40 MPH WILL DEVELOP REGION WIDE SOMETIME
BETWEEN 1 AND 6 AM.

THE MORNING DRIVE TO WORK IN NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS COULD BE SLOW
AND HAZARDOUS.

SNOW AMOUNTS IN SOUTHERN MASSACHUSETTS...CONNECTICUT AND RHODE
ISLAND SHOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE BUT SLIPPERY STRETCHES OF PAVEMENT MAY
DEVELOP AS TEMPERATURES FALL AND FLURRIES DEVELOP TOWARD MORNING.

SNOW MAY ACCUMULATE SEVERAL INCHES ON THE CAPE AFTER DAYBREAK
TUESDAY AS THE COLD AIR INTERACTS WITH THE WARMER WATERS OF THE BAY.

WINDS DURING THE DAY TUESDAY ARE EXPECTED TO GUST BETWEEN 50 AND
60 MPH. LATE THIS AFTERNOON PELLSTON MICHIGAN REPORTED A WIND GUST
OF 67 MPH.

WIND CHILL TUESDAY AFTERNOON WILL BE 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO. SO...WHILE
ANY SNOW THAT DOES FALL SHOULD END BY MIDDAY IT IS GOING TO BE NASTY
COLD FOR LATE NOVEMBER.

RESIDENTS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SHOULD PREPARE FOR A SUDDEN CHANGE
IN THE WEATHER EARLY TUESDAY. BUNDLE UP TOMORROW AND THINK ABOUT
ADDING SOME TIME TO YOUR NORMAL MORNING DRIVE TO WORK.

DRAG
Special weather statement, Nov 20, 8:27 PM EST, 1 hour 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR RHODE ISLAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
830 PM EST THU NOV 17 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF RHODE ISLAND...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EST FOR ALL OF
RHODE ISLAND.  THUNDERSTORMS HAVE RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AHEAD OF A VIGOROUS
FAST MOVING COLD FRONT CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK AND
PENNSYLVANIA.   THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG GUSTY
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH.

RHODE ISLANDERS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS
OR TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

REMEMBER...A SEVER THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.  RHODE ISLANDERS
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
BE READY TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACH.

THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1030PM...SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

VALLEE
Special weather statement, Nov 20, 8:31 PM EST, 1 hour 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR RHODE ISLAND...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
830 PM EST MON NOV 20 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF RHODE ISLAND...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 2 AM EST FOR ALL OF
RHODE ISLAND.  THUNDERSTORMS HAVE RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AHEAD OF A VIGOROUS
FAST MOVING COLD FRONT CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK AND
PENNSYLVANIA.   THESE STORMS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG GUSTY
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH.

RHODE ISLANDERS SHOULD STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS
OR TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

REMEMBER...A SEVER THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE
FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.  RHODE ISLANDERS
SHOULD BE ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND
BE READY TO SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY SHOULD THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACH.

THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1030PM...SOONER IF
CONDITIONS WARRANT.

VALLEE
Special weather statement, Nov 20, 8:59 PM EST, 46 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
850 PM EST THU NOV 16 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CONNECTICUT UNTIL
   200 AM EST...

A RAPIDLY MOVING LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEASTERN
NEW YORK STATE AT 845 PM ARE MOVING EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 50 TO 60 MPH.
DAMAGING NORTHWEST WINDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
THEY LINE WILL BE ENTERING NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT SHORTLY AFTER 900 PM
WILL PROBABLY CLEAR THE STATE BY MIDNIGHT.  MUCH COLDER AIR WITH A
PERIOD OF SNOW OR FLURRIES WILL FOLLOW.

REPORTS OF TREES DOWN, POWER OUTAGES AND OTHER WIND DAMAGE HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY REPORTED IN NEW YORK STATE.  PERSONS IN CONNECTICUT SHOULD
BE PREPARED FOR A PERIOD OF ACTIVE WEATHER LATER THIS EVENING WITH
POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 TO 60 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS OR ANY WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

BUDD
Special weather statement, Nov 20, 9:10 PM EST, 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR CONNECTICUT...CORRECTION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
850 PM EST MON NOV 20 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR CONNECTICUT UNTIL
   200 AM EST...

A RAPIDLY MOVING LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHEASTERN
NEW YORK STATE AT 845 PM ARE MOVING EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 50 TO 60 MPH.
DAMAGING NORTHWEST WINDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS.
THE LINE WILL BE ENTERING NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT SHORTLY AFTER 900 PM
WILL PROBABLY CLEAR THE STATE BY MIDNIGHT.  MUCH COLDER AIR WITH A
PERIOD OF SNOW OR FLURRIES WILL FOLLOW.

REPORTS OF TREES DOWN, POWER OUTAGES AND OTHER WIND DAMAGE HAVE BEEN
RECENTLY REPORTED IN NEW YORK STATE.  PERSONS IN CONNECTICUT SHOULD
BE PREPARED FOR A PERIOD OF ACTIVE WEATHER LATER THIS EVENING WITH
POSSIBLE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 TO 60 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL TELEVISION FOR FURTHER
STATEMENTS OR ANY WARNINGS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

BUDD
Special weather statement, Nov 20, 9:31 PM EST, 14 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
915 PM EST MON NOV 20 1989

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF MASSACHUSETTS UNTIL 2 AM EST...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 767 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF MASSSACHUSETTS
AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS..EXCEPT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS.

AT 9 PM EST A LINE OF VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS..WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS..
EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK TO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS
SQUALL LINE WAS MOVING RAPIDLY SOUTHEASTWARD AROUND 60 MPH.

STRONG DAMAGING WINDS HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN SOME LOCATIONS IN NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.

THE LINE WILL BE MOVING INTO WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND WESTERN CONNECTICUT
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS..AND ACROSS THE REGION BY 2 AM.

DAMAGING WINDS..LARGE HAIL..FREQUENT LIGHTNING..AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS
MAY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE SQUALL LINE.

THE SQUALL LINE IS IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL MOVE OFF
THE NEW ENGLAND COAST OVERNIGHT. THIS COLD FRONT WILL USHER IN
MUCH COLDER AIR..ALONG WITH GALE TO STORM FORCE WINDS. RAIN SHOWERS
WILL TURN TO SNOW SHOWERS..WITH ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES IN
SOME LOCATIONS.

A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF INTERIOR MASSACHUSETTS
AND THE EAST COAST..EXCLUDING THE SOUTHEAST AND CAPE COD AREAS.

NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE INCREASING OVERNIGHT AND WILL GUST 40-60 MPH
OVERNIGHT AND TUESDAY.

ALL PE5RSONS SHOULD MONITOR RADIO..TELEVISION..AND NOAA WEATHER RADIO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

RMK

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Nov 20, 10:59 PM ESTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXNortheastern Connecticut Planning Region46 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Connecticut, 1989Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1989Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.