Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1991

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 13, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

June 12, 1991Essex County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 12, 1991, 3:32 PM EDT for Essex County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 43 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 12, 1991, 3:32 PM EDT (19:32 UTC)
Expired
Jun 12, 1991, 4:15 PM EDT
In force
43 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

County Essex County, MA

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 12, 3:42 PM EDTThunderstorm Wind 0Essex, MA

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 12:00Z, 7.5 hours before the alert went out and 131 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, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 1991-06-12Temperature 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 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 1991-06-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 39 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1044 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
108 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 KBOS 121931
SVRBOS
MAC009-122015-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
332 PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BOSTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  415 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...NORTHERN ESSEX COUNTY
 
AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
 
 
AT 325 PM...A POTENTIALLY SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHEAST NEW
HAMPSHIRE WILL GRAZE THE NORTH PART OF ESSEX COUNTY BY 350 PM. THE
TOWNS OF HAVERHILL... AMESBURY... NEWBURYPORT AND ROWLEY MAY HAVE
DAMAGING WIND WITH NUMEROUS TREES DOWN AS WELL AS POWER OUTAGES AND
VERY HEAVY RAIN. THIS THUNDERSTORM IS LIKELY TO CAUSE VERY STRONG
WINDS FROM THE MERRIMAC RIVER TO NEAR GLOUCESTER BETWEEN 340 AND 415
PM.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DON'T USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRI~CAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
 
MARINE INTERESTS SHOULD SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY NEAR
NEWBURYPORT.
 
DRAG

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, Jun 12, 9:50 AM EDT, 5 hours 42 minutes before
MAZALL-CTZALL-RIZALL-121900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
1000 AM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY...

THE LATEST WEATHER CHARTS INDICATE THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR
THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER MUCH OF NEW ENGLAND THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL LIKELY BE ACCOMPANIED BY HAIL...STRONG GUSTY
WINDS...BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...AND OF COURSE...DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...BE ALERT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE
SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

WATLING
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 12:23 PM EDT, 3 hours 9 minutes before
MAZALL-CTZALL-RIZALL-122200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
1220 PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS
   AFTERNOON AND EVENING...

CONDITIONS ARE BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR SEVERE WEATHER TO DEVELOP
OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY BROKEN OUT OVER CENTRAL NEW YORK
STATE...WITH REPORTS OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL AND DOWNED POWER LINES.
THESE STORMS ARE HEADING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD HAVE LARGE HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS...BRIEF
HEAVY DOWNPOURS...AND OF COURSE DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WATCH OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE
IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE I&SSUED AS NEEDED.

WATLING
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 1:18 PM EDT, 2 hours 14 minutes before
MAZALL-CTZALL-RIZALL-130100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
115 PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW
   ENGLAND INCLUDING THE COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH NUMBER 510 HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALL OF
SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND INCLUDING THE COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT.
A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH AND
HAIL 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE...MAKING THE CHANCE OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS MORE LIKELY.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY BROKEN
OUT OVER CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE...WITH REPORTS OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL
AND DOWNED POWER LINES.

THESE STORMS ARE HEADING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO
WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BY 2 OR 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON...THEN SPREAD OVER
EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION THEREAFTER.

ADDITIONALLY...THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...WATCH OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE
IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF THUNDERSTORMS APPROACH OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED.

FURTHER STATEMENTS WILL BE ISSUED AS NEEDED.

WATLING
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 1:44 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
RIZALL-130100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
144 PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR RHODE ISLAND UNTIL 9 PM...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF RHODE ISLAND...AS WELL
AS THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND ALL COASTAL WATERS UNTIL 9 PM
TONIGHT.  A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH MEANS THAT WINDS IN EXCESS OF 58 MPH
AND HAIL 3/4 INCH IN DIAMETER IS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA.

WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE...MAKING THE CHANCE OF SEVERE
THUNDERSTORMS MORE LIKELY.  SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE ALREADY BROKEN OUT
OVER CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE...WITH REPORTS OF NICKEL SIZED HAIL AND DOWNED
POWER LINES.

THESE STORMS ARE HEADING EAST AT 30 MPH AND WILL LIKELY MOVE INTO WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS BY 2 TO 3 PM...THEN SPREAD INTO THE OCEAN STATE DURING THE
EVENING RUSH HOUR.
.
ADDITIONALLY...THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL HAVE BRIEF RAIN AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN RHODE ISLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...WATCH OUT FOR THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF
THUNDERSTORMS STRIKE.  MARINERS ON NARRAGANSETT BAY MAY WANT TO STAY CLOSE
TO PORT...AN#D BE PREPARED TO HEAD TO HARBOR IMMEDIATELY.

VALLEE
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 2:32 PM EDT, 1 hour before
CTZALL-MAZ005-122000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
232 PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL OF CONNECTICUT AND WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY IN
MASSACHUSETTS IS MOVING EAST AT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND WILL REACH
HAMPEN COUNTY DURING THE NEXT HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD HAVE LAGER HAIL...STRONG WIND GUSTS AND
HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND OF COURSE DANGEROUS LIGTNING.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS AFTERNOON...WATCH PUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACH.

WOODARD
Special weather statement, Jun 12, 3:18 PM EDT, 14 minutes before
CTZALL-MAZ005-12  00-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
    PM EDT WED JUN 12 1991

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL OF CONNECTICUT AND WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT...

A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE TO KINGSTON
NEW YORK MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR

REPORTS OF WIND AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR AND SMALL HAIL HAS BEEN
REPORTED IN HAMPEN COUNTY AT 310 PM

IF YOU ARE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THIS AFTERNOON...WATCH OUT FOR
THREATENING WEATHER AND TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER
APPROACH.

WOODARD

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 12, 2:42 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXWorcester33 min
Jun 12, 2:53 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXMiddlesex52 min
Jun 12, 3:11 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXWorcester64 min
Jun 12, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXNorfolk62 min
Jun 12, 4:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXMiddlesex36 min
Jun 12, 4:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXSuffolk25 min
Jun 12, 4:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXPlymouth42 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1991Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1991

Sources

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