Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 57, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 26, 1994Hampshire County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 26, 1994, 4:51 PM EDT for Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 54 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 26, 1994, 4:51 PM EDT (20:51 UTC)
Expired
Jul 26, 1994, 5:45 PM EDT
In force
54 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

County Hampshire County, MA

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALB), launched 12:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 103 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 1994-07-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 402 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 1994-07-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 114 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
402 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-90 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
745 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
156 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBOS 262053 RRA
SVRBOS
MAC015-262145-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
451 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  545 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN WEST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...WESTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
 
AT 451 PM...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WASHINGTON AND BECKET
IN EASTERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY. THE STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35
MPH AND WILL BE AFFECTING THE TOWNS OF MIDDLEFIELD...WORTHINGTON...
CHESTERFIELD AND CUMMINGTON IN WESTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY. TREES AND POWER
LINES WERE REPORTED BLOWN DOWN IN ALFORD IN SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY AT
448 PM.
 
THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH YOU SHOULD
PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 55 MPH...LARGE HAIL...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING BUT STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
 
 
 
&

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, Jul 26, 4:05 PM EDT, 46 minutes before
MAZ002>021-MAZ501>504-262100-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
405 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS UNTIL 9 PM EDT...

AT 4 PM...RADAR INDICATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING THROUGH
BERKSHIRE COUNTY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP AT ANY TIME DURING THE REMAINDER
OF THE AFTERNOON...BUT THE MOST LIKELY TIME WILL BE LATER INTO THE
EVENING.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATION FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GIRODO
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:40 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
MAZ002>003-MAZ008>011-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS UNTIL 9 PM EDT...

AT 430 PM...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN
BERKSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN LEE AND SHEFFIELD.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH...AND WILL BE APPROACHING WESTERN PORTIONS
OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN WORTHINGTON AND PLAINFIELD BETWEEN 445 PM
AND 515 PM.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO WESTERN HAMPDEN COUNTY
BY 5 PM.

THE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLY
SMALL HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GIRODO
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:40 PM EDT, 11 minutes before
CTZ001>004-008-012-262230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CONNECTICUT
UNTIL 900 PM...

AT 435 PM RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM
BERKSHIRE COUNTY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SOUTH SOUTHWEST INTO THE NEW
YORK CITY AREA AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND ARE STARTING TO MOVE INTO NORTHWEST LITCHFIELD
COUNTY AND COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS...STRONG WIND GUSTS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING. OTHER STORMS COULD MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE STATE DURING
THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

NOTCHEY
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:41 PM EDT, 10 minutes before
MAZ002>003-MAZ008>011-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS UNTIL 9 PM EDT...

AT 430 PM...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN
BERKSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN LEE AND SHEFFIELD.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH...AND WILL BE APPROACHING WESTERN PORTIONS
OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN WORTHINGTON AND PLAINFIELD BETWEEN 445 PM
AND 515 PM.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO WESTERN HAMPDEN COUNTY
BY 5 PM.

THE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLY
SMALL HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GIRODO
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:44 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
CTZ001>004-008-012-262230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HARTFORD CT
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CONNECTICUT
UNTIL 900 PM...

AT 435 PM RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM
BERKSHIRE COUNTY OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SOUTH SOUTHWEST INTO THE NEW
YORK CITY AREA AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY. THE STORMS ARE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH AND ARE STARTING TO MOVE INTO NORTHWEST LITCHFIELD
COUNTY AND COULD PRODUCE HEAVY RAINS...STRONG WIND GUSTS AND DANGEROUS
LIGHTNING. OTHER STORMS COULD MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE STATE DURING
THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL RADIO OR TELEVISION
STATION FOR LATER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

NOTCHEY
Special weather statement, Jul 26, 4:44 PM EDT, 7 minutes before
MAZ002>003-MAZ008>011-262300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 1994

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF
MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS UNTIL 9 PM EDT...

AT 430 PM...RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN
BERKSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN LEE AND SHEFFIELD.  THESE STORMS WERE MOVING
TO THE NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH...AND WILL BE APPROACHING WESTERN PORTIONS
OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY BETWEEN WORTHINGTON AND PLAINFIELD BETWEEN 445 PM
AND 515 PM.  OTHER THUNDERSTORMS MAY MOVE INTO WESTERN HAMPDEN COUNTY
BY 5 PM.

THE STORMS WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LOCALLY HEAVY DOWNPOURS AND POSSIBLY
SMALL HAIL.

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND YOUR LOCAL TELEVISION AND
RADIO STATIONS FOR FURTHER UPDATES AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS.

GIRODO

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 26, 6:00 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampshire45 min
Jul 26, 6:25 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXWorcester50 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.