Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1992

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 34, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 4, 1992Franklin County, Worcester County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 4, 1992, 3:54 PM EDT for Franklin County, Worcester County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 66 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 4, 1992, 3:54 PM EDT (19:54 UTC)
Expired
Aug 4, 1992, 5:00 PM EDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Franklin County, MA, Worcester County, MA

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALB), launched 12:00Z, 7.9 hours before the alert went out and 132 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 1992-08-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 7 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 1992-08-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 55 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 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
7 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-109 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1018 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
55 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
66 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KORH 041955
SVRORH
MAC027-011-042100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORCESTER MA
354 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WORCESTER HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  500 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
 
IN WEST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...EASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY
 
HAM RADIO OPERATOR AT THE ORANGE AIRPORT REPORTED VERY HIGH WINDS AND
MANY TREES DOWN.
 
 
A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN C(ALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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, Aug 4, 2:05 PM EDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before
MAZALL-CTZALL-RIZALL-042000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
205 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND
WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT
BARNSTABLE...NANTUCKET AND DUKES OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AT 200 PM...RADAR INDICATED NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
DEVELOPING OVER EXTREME WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE CONNECTICUT...NEW YORK STATE BORDER.

A PARTICULARLY STRONG STORM WAS LOCATED NORTH OF POUGHKEEPSIE NEW YORK
AND HEADED FOR THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF CONNECTICUT. IF THAT STRONG
STORM HOLDS TOGETHER IT WOULD MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHWEST HALF OF
LITCHFIELD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT BETWEEN 215 AND 245 PM.

OTHER SHOWERS WERE LOCATED OVER EXTREME SOUTHEAST RHODE ISLAND AND THE
THE RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS INTO BUZZARDS BAY.  ALL THE RAIN WAS
MOVING EAST TO NORTHEAST.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TO BECOME NUMEROUS ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW
ENGLAND BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM.  THEY MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING
WINDS...TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS...AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO OR LARGE HAIL.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN A LOWER
FLOOR...INNER HALLWAY OR BATHROOM OF A BUILDING.

DRAG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 2:39 PM EDT, 1 hour 15 minutes before
MAZ001>004-007>009-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
235 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND
WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT
BARNSTABLE...NANTUCKET AND DUKES OF SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.

AT 230 PM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY IN WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.  THE LEADING EDGE WAS ROUGHLY FROM BERNARDSTON NEAR THE
VERMONT...NEW HAMPSHIRE BORDER WITH MASSACHUSETTS TO ABOUT 10 MILES
WEST OF WESTFIELD THEN DOWN INTO EXTREME NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT.  THE
LINE SHOULD MOVE EAST AT ABOUT 25 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE CROSS THE CONNECTICUT RIVER INTO
CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...INCLUDING WORCESTER COUNTY BETWEEN 3 AND 430
PM.

THEREAFTER...THOSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD MOVE INTO EASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN 430 AND 6 PM.

OTHER SHOWERS AT 230 PM WERE APPROACHING MARTHAS VINEYARD. BLOCK
ISLAND RHODE ISLAND RECEIVED 1 INCH OF RAIN IN 40 MINUTES ENDING
ABOUT 2 O/CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON.  HEAVY RAIN SHOULD AFFECT PARTS OF
BUZZARDS BAY AND MARTHAS VINEYARD UNTIL ABOUT 330 PM.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER ON A LOWER
FLOOR...INNER HALLWAY OR BATHROOM OF A BUILDING.

DRAG
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:05 PM EDT, 49 minutes before
CTZALL-MAZ005-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
305 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN FOR ALL OF CONNECTICUT AND WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

AT 300 PM...RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR CANAAN
CONNECTICUT IN NORTHERN LITCHFIELD COUNTY.  STATE POLICE IN CANAAN
REPORT HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING WITH THIS STORM BUT NO REPORTS OF
DAMAGING WINDS AT THIS TIME.  ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED
AROUND BRISTOL CONNECTICUT IN SOUTHWEST HARTFORD COUNTY.  THESE STORMS
WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.  THE BRISTOL THUNDERSTORM SHOULD MOVE
INTO THE GREATER HARTFORD BY 330 PM.

REMEMBER A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM FOR CONNECTICUT...
THIS MEANS THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS...
LARGE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND A POSSIBLE TORNADO.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY UNTIL
THE STORM HAS PASSED.  STAY TUNED TO LOCAL RADIO STATIONS OR NOAA
WEATHER RADIO OR UPDATES ON THIS STORM SITUATION.

IF YOU WITNESS SEVERE WEATHER...REPORT TO YOUR LOCAL POLICE AND ASK
THEM TO RELAY THE INFORMATION TO YOUR LOCAL NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE.

WHITTIEFR
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:18 PM EDT, 36 minutes before
RIZALL-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PROVIDENCE RI
316 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF RHODE ISLAND UNTIL 9 PM...

AT 300 PM...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT.  THESE
STORMS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY VERY HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING BUT NO
DAMAGING WINDS OR HAIL HAVE OCCURRED YET.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND MAY
BEGIN TO AFFECT WESTERN RHODE ISLAND AROUND 5 PM.  ALL RHODE ISLANDERS
SHOULD REMAIN ALERT AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THREATNING WEATHER.

A TORNADO WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND TORNADOES IN RHODE ISLAND.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE
HAIL.

IF SEVERE WEATHER BECOMES IMMINENT OR ACTUALLY OCCURS...WARNINGS WILL
BE ISSUED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR LvATER STATEMENTS
AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

CADIMA
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:31 PM EDT, 23 minutes before
MAZ004-005-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORCESTER MA
325 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR FRANKLIN...HAMPSHIRE AND
WORCESTER COUNTIES UNTIL 9 PM THIS EVENING...

AT 320 PM...WEATHER RADAR SHOWED A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
ACROSS CENTRAL FRANKLIN AND HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES IN WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS. THESE STORMS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY VERY HEAVY RAIN AND
LIGHTNING WITH SOME SMALL HAIL BEING REPORTED.

THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE MOVING TO THE EAST AT 30 MPH AND
SHOULD BEGIN TO EFFECT WORCESTER COUNTY BY 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

IF SEVERE WEATHER BECOMES IMMINENT OR ACTUALLY OCCURS...WARNINGS                WILL BWILL BE ISSUED.  STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL
TELEVISON AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THE LATEST STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.

BILODEAU
Special weather statement, Aug 4, 3:48 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
MAZ001>004-007>009-042100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BOSTON MA
345 PM EDT TUE AUG 4 1992

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 415 PM FOR
HAMPDEN COUNTY OF MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL AS HARTFORD COUNTY
CONNECTICUT...

AT 340 PM...RADAR INDICATED SEVERAL BANDS OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE
CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF MASSACHUSETTS...AS WELL AS THE WEST
SECTIONS OF WORCESTER COUNTY.

THE STRONGEST STORMS APPEARED TO LIE BETWEEN HARTFORD CONNECTICUT AND
SPRINGFIELD MASSACHUSETTS.

DIME SIZED HAIL HAS BEEN REPORTED AT 330 AND 334 PM PM NEAR AGAWAM
MASSACHUSETTS AND AT LUDLOW AT 341 PM.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE DRIFTING EAST TO NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 20 MPH.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO SHIFT INTO EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN
430 AND 6 PM.

A TORNADO WATCH CONTINUED IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND
AND WILL EXPIRE AT 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING.  THE WATCH INCLUDES ALL
COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT BARNSTABLE...NANTUCKET AND
DUKES OF SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...SEEK SAFE SHELTER ON A LOWER
FLOOR...INNER HALLWAY OR BATHROOM OF A BUILDING.

DRAG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 4, 3:33 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden42 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1992Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1992

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.