Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 36, NWS Albany, NY

July 5, 1990Berkshire County, Massachusetts

NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 5, 1990, 3:30 AM EDT for Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 45 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 5, 1990, 3:30 AM EDT (07:30 UTC)
Expired
Jul 5, 1990, 4:15 AM EDT
In force
45 min
Issued by
NWS Albany, NY
Area
Whole counties

County Berkshire 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, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 62 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 1990-07-05Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 3325 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 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 1990-07-05The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 115 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
3325 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1712 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
47 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
355 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.8
Supercell composite
28.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KALB 050733
SVRALB
MAC003-050815-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
330 AM EDT THU JUL 5 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY NY  HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  415 AM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN WEST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY
 
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED WINDS OF 60 MILES AN HOUR IN
ADAMS IN NORTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY. FALLING TREE LIMBS
KNOCKED OUT POWER.
 
THIS STORM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF NORTHERN BERKSHIRE
COUNTY.
 
 
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HdEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY 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

Local storm report, Jul 4, 9:54 PM EDT, 5 hours 36 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP B
0956PM EST WED JUL 04 1990
BMAL WLSR APTS
02271        FILE 28   MALONE NY1160100              JUL 04-90
TO           NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                   THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND

LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): T/MALONE - FRANKLIN COUNTY
US RT 11
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 9-45PM - 07/04/90
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: NONE REPORTED

CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
(X) - NO HAIL REPORTED    ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2" (PEA)
( ) - 1/2" (MARBLE)       ( ) - 1/2" TO 3/4" (PENNY)
( ) - 3/4" TO 1" (DIME)   ( ) - 1.25" (HALF DOLLAR)
( ) - 1.50" (WALNUT)      ( ) - 1.75" (GOLFBALL)
( ) - 2.00" (HENS EGG)    ( ) - 2.50" (TENNISBALL)
( ) - 2.75" (BASEBALL)    ( ) - 3.00" (TEA CUP)
( ) - 4.00" (GRAPEFRUIT)  ( ) - 4.50" (SOFTBALL)
NUMBER KILLED:          NUMBER INJURED:

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS ( ) - CLOUD TO CLOUD  (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO:            ( ) - TREES
( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES   ( ) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE   ( ) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS  (X) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES
( ) - POWER/TELCO LINES

RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS:     MPH OR    KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
( ) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
( ) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
( ) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE

REMARKS: TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS WITH FREQUENT LIGHTNING AND THU3NDER-
EXPERIENCED TWO BRIEF POWER INTERRUPTIONS

AUTH PHONE #: 518 483-5000
AUTH SGT NEIL J MULVERHILL          WALKER        9-54PM
Special weather statement, Jul 4, 11:02 PM EDT, 4 hours 28 minutes before
NYZ006>013-018>020-050400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1100 PM EDT WED JUL 4 1990

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NEW YORK
TIL 400 AM THURSDAY MORNING AND A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM
THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE SARANAC-LAKE PLACID REGION AND THE CHAMPLAIN
VALLEY.

AT 1100 PM SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM CLINTON COUNTY SOUTH INTO
NORTHERN ESSEX COUNTY. MORE WERE SCATTERED FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY IN
NEW YORK THROUGH THE ADIRONDACKS.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN WERE JUST EAST OF AU SABLE
FORKS IN ESSEX COUNTY AND NORTHWEST OF HADLEY IN NORTHERN SARATOGA
COUNTY.

MORE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK AND WILL BE MOVING
INTO EASTERN NEW YORK AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE SOUTHEAST AT ABOUT
40 MPH.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERHVICE.

KANE
Special weather statement, Jul 5, 2:07 AM EDT, 1 hour 23 minutes before
NYZ008>013-018>020-050700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
205 AM EDT THU JUL 5 1990

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
TIL 400 AM THURSDAY MORNING AND A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700
AM THURSDAY MORNING FOR THE SARANAC-LAKE PLACID REGION AND THE
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY.

A SECOND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF SOUTHERN
NEW YORK TIL 600 AM THURSDAY MORNING.

AT 205 AM THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH THE MOHAWK VALLEY...THE
SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS AND THE LAKE GEORGE-SARATOGA REGION. THE STORMS
WERE MOVING TO THE EAST ABOUT 45 MPH.

THE MOST ACTIVE STORM WAS IN FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES FROM
CAROGA LAKE IN FULTON COUNTY TO RURAL GROVE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM SACANDAGA LAKE TO AMSTERDAM BETWEEN
215 AM AND 230 AM.

YOU CAN EXPECT VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...
STRONG WINDS AND MAYBE HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS FROM YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

KANE
Local storm report, Jul 5, 2:11 AM EDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP E
0211AM EST THU JUL 05 1990
ESFL WLSR APTS
00648        FILE 28   PD SENECA FALLS NY0492300     07-05-90
TO           NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                   THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND

LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): VARIOUS SPOTS THROUGHOUT
THE ENTIRE VILLAGE ROUTES 5 & 20/ROUTE 414
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 07-04-90/23:30 P.M. EST
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: NON-EMERGENCY, MINOR DAMAGE TO
AREA

CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
(X) - NO HAIL REPORTED    ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2" (PEA)
( ) - 1/2" (MARBLE)       ( ) - 1/2" TO 3/4" (PENNY)
( ) - 3/4" TO 1" (DIME)   ( ) - 1.25" (HALF DOLLAR)
( ) - 1.50" (WALNUT)      ( ) - 1.75" (GOLFBALL)
( ) - 2.00" (HENS EGG)    ( ) - 2.50" (TENNISBALL)
( ) - 2.75" (BASEBALL)    ( ) - 3.00" (TEA CUP)
( ) - 4.00" (GRAPEFRUIT)  ( ) - 4.50" (SOFTBALL)
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS (X) - CLOUD TO CLOUD  (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO:            ( ) - TREES
(X) - POWER/TELCO POLES   (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE   ( ) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS  (X) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  (X) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES

RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS:     MPH OR    KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
(X) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
( ) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
( ) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE

REMARKS: WIND AND LIGHTNING MOST DAMAGING PART OF STORM, ALSO
RECEIVED HEAVY DOWN POURS OF RAIN

AUTH PHONE #: 315 568-5853
AUTH PORRETTA,V SERGEANT            GROMOSKE      2:10 HRS
Local storm report, Jul 5, 3:07 AM EDT, 23 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP A
0307AM EST THU JUL 05 1990
ACSO WLSR
01328        FILE 28   SO CHAUT CO MAYV NY0060000    JUL 4-90
TO           NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                   THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND

LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): BUSTI NORTH HARMONY
KIANTONE
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 0100 HRS
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: NUMEROUS TREE DOWN BLOCKING
ROADS HIGHWAY CREWS ON SCENE NIAGARA MOHAWK DISPATCHED TO WIRES
DOWN WITH TREE CALLS REC REPORTS OF LIGHTNING STIKES ON
RESDS IN TOWNS OF PORTLAND AND CARROLL
CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
(X) - NO HAIL REPORTED    ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2" (PEA)
( ) - 1/2" (MARBLE)       ( ) - 1/2" TO 3/4" (PENNY)
( ) - 3/4" TO 1" (DIME)   ( ) - 1.25" (HALF DOLLAR)
( ) - 1.50" (WALNUT)      ( ) - 1.75" (GOLFBALL)
( ) - 2.00" (HENS EGG)    ( ) - 2.50" (TENNISBALL)
( ) - 2.75" (BASEBALL)    ( ) - 3.00" (TEA CUP)
( ) - 4.00" (GRAPEFRUIT)  ( ) - 4.50" (SOFTBALL)
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS (X) - CLOUD TO CLOUD  (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO:            (X) - TREES
(X) - POWER/TELCO POLES   (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/T'STORM WIND DAMAGE   ( ) - CROPS
( ) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS  (X) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES

RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS:     MPH OR    KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED: 0        NUMBER INJURED: 0

FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
( ) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
( ) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
( ) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE

REMARKS:  FREQUENT LIGHTNING REPORTS OF LIGHTNING STRIKES          ?
TO HOUSES IN AREA NUMEROUS TREES BLOWN DOWN WITH POWER LINES
BLOCKING ROADS HIGHWAY CREWS ON SCENES
AUTH PHONE #: 716 753-2131
AUTH  R KOST                        KOST          3-05 AM

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.