Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Albany, NY

July 20, 1990Berkshire County, Massachusetts

NWS Albany, NY issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 20, 1990, 5:07 PM EDT for Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 53 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 1990, 5:07 PM EDT (21:07 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 1990, 6:00 PM EDT
In force
53 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 12:00Z, 9.1 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 574 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 12:00Z on 1990-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 62 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
574 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-63 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
993 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
48 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
62 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
113 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
1.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KALB 202123
SVRALB
MAC003-202200-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
507 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ALBANY NY  HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  600 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS......
 
IN WEST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...BERKSHIRE COUNTY
 
AT 522 PM EDT RADAR SHOWED A CLUSTER OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN
NORTH ADAMS AND PITTSFIELD MASSACHUSETTS. THEY WERE MOVING EAST AT
40 MPH AND WILL AFFECT MUCH OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN BERKSHIRE
COUNTY BETWEEN 525 AND 600 PM EDT.
 
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 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 20, 1:31 PM EDT, 3 hours 36 minutes before
NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP D
0134PM EST FRI JUL 20 1990
DHQT WLSR DADM
05926    FILE 28   SP ONEIDA NY1260100               JUL 20-90
TO           NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

DETAILS CONCERNING EVENT: WEATHER CONDITIONS

LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): MADISON COUNTY

REMARKS: STORM IN ONEIDA HAS PASSED OVER - NO DAMAGE OR INJURY REPORTS - LIGHT
RAIN AND MILD WIND

AUTH PHONE #: 315 363-4400
AUTH AND SENT TPR C J MORE                   1-33 PM
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 2:08 PM EDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before
NYZ008>013-018>020-201900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
207 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH THE MOHAWK AND UPPER
HUDSON VALLEYS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR
PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW YORK.  AT 200 PM A LINE OF
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM THE SOUTHERN END OF LAKE
CHAMPLAIN TO THE WESTERN MOHAWK VALLEY.

ONE STORM WAS JUST EAST OF LAKE GEORGE VILLAGE.  IT/LL MOVE
ACROSS NORTHERN WASHINGTON COUNTY BETWEEN 210 AND 230 PM.
IT/LL CAUSE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING.

ANOTHER STORM WAS IN SOUTHWEST FULTON COUNTY NEAR OPPENHEIM.
THAT/S 15 MILES EAST OF UTICA.  IT/LL AFFECT THE JOHNSTOWN/
GLOVERSVILLE AREA BY ABOUT 230 PM.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALL MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:06 PM EDT, 2 hours 1 minute before
NYZ008>013-018>020-202000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
305 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
FOR PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW YORK...

AT 255 PM EDT A LINE OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM GLENS FALLS ACROSS THE EASTERN MOHAWK VALLEY
TO NEAR COOPERSTOWN.  THE LINE WAS MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

THE MOST ACTIVE STORMS WERE FROM THE SACANDAGA RESERVOIR ACROSS
NORTHERN SARATOGA...AND SOUTHERN WARREN COUNTIES. THESE STORMS
WILL PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN WHICH COULD FLOOD ROADS AND UNDERPASSES.

REMEMBER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT.  IF THE WEATHER GETS THREATENING
GET TO A SAFE PLACE FAST.
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
NYZ008>013-018>020-202000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
345 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS WERE MOVING
THROUGH SCHOHARIE COUNTY...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR PARTS
OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW YORK.

AT 340 PM A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS IN WESTERN SCHOHARIE COUNTY
FROM SHARON TO SUMMIT.  BY ABOUT 400 PM EDT THESE STORMS WILL BE
ALONG HIGHWAY 30 FROM CENTRAL BRIDGE TO SCHOAHRIE AND MIDDLEBURGH.
THESE STORMS WILL CAUSE VERY HEAVY RAIN...GUSTY WINDS AND POSSIBLY
HAIL.

OTHER SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WERE FROM MANCHESTER
VERMONT...ACROSS NORTHERN SARATOGA COUNTY TIO MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
THEY WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  IF THE WEATHER GETS
THREATENING...GET TO A SAFE SHELTER FAST.
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:14 PM EDT, 53 minutes before
NYZ008>013-018>020-202100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
415 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR PARTS
OF SOUTHERN AND EASTERN NEW YORK...

AT 410 PM EDT A LINE OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM
BENNINGTON VERMONT....ACROSS THE CAPITAL DISTRICT TO THE SCHOHARIE
RESERVOIR.

A THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...AND POSSIBLY HAIL WAS IN THE
NORTHEAST CORNER OF RENSSELAER COUNTY NEAR HOOSICK FALLS.  IT/LL MOVE
INTO VERMONT BY 430 PM.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN WERE OVER SOUTHERN SCHENECTADY
AND NORTHERN ALBANY COUNTIES.  THE PASSAGE OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL
ALSO CAUSE BRIEF WIND GUSTS TO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH.
<

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  IF THE WEATHER GETS
THREATENING...GET TO A SAFE bSHELTER FAST.
Special weather statement, Jul 20, 4:46 PM EDT, 21 minutes before
NYZ008>013-018>020-MAZ006-202130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
445 PM EDT FRI JUL 20 1990

...THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING THROUGH SOUTHEAST NEW YORK...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR NEW YORK IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT
FROM THE CAPITAL DISTRICT NORTH AND WEST.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT FOR ALL THE CATSKILLS...AND
IN THE LOWER HUDSON VALLEY FOR COLUMBIA...GREENE AND ULSTER COUNTIES.

AT 440 PM A LINE OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WAS FROM
BENNINGTON VERMONT...ACROSS THE CAPITAL DISTRICT...TO 20 MILES
EAST OF BINGHAMTON.  THE LINE WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS BETWEEN AVERILL PARK AND NASSUA IN RENSSELAER COUNTY WERE
CAUSING VERY HEAVY RAIN AND WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH.  THESE STORMS WILL
MOVE ACROSS NORTHERN RENSSELAER COUNTY BETWEEN 445 AND 500 PM.
THEY/LL REACH NORTHWEST BERKSHIRE COUNTY AROUND 500 PM.

REMEMBER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS.  IF THE WEATHER GETS
THREATENING...GET TO A SAFE SHELTER FAST.

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.