Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 31, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 3, 1997Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 3, 1997, 10:06 PM EDT for Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 69 min. 3 reports 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
Jul 3, 1997, 10:06 PM EDT (02:06 UTC)
Expired
Jul 3, 1997, 11:15 PM EDT
In force
69 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Whole counties

Counties Bristol County, MA, Plymouth County, MA

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:06 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 3, 10:25 PM EDTHail 0.75Acushnet, MA
Jul 3, 10:40 PM EDTHail 0.88Acushnet, MA
Jul 3, 11:00 PM EDTHail 1.75Rochester, 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 00:00Z, 2.1 hours before the alert went out and 81 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 00:00Z on 1997-07-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 774 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, Chatham, MA at 00:00Z on 1997-07-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 84 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
774 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-16 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
556 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
84 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
2.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

356 
WUUS1 KBOS 040207 RRA
SVRBOS
MAC005-023-040315-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1006 PM EDT THU JUL 3 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1115 PM EDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS
 
   ...BRISTOL COUNTY...PLYMOUTH COUNTY
 
AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL WATERS.
 
 
AT 1005 PM WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
NEAR FALL RIVER. THIS STORM WAS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AND WILL AFFECT
THE MIDDLEBORO AND PLYMOUTH AREAS THROUGH 11 PM. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS ARE LIKELY IN THIS AREA.
 
WHEN THUNDERSTORMS ARE OCCURRING...PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE INSIDE A
STRONG BUILDING.  DO NOT STAND BY WINDOWS.  DONT USE TELEPHONES
OR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES UNLESS IN AN EMERGENCY UNTIL THE STORM
HAS PASSED.  MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT DRIVE INTO LOW WATER CROSSINGS.
 
GF/RMT

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 3, 8:00 PM EDT, 2 hours 6 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
800 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    Heath                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0709 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

AED
Local storm report, Jul 3, 8:04 PM EDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
800 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    Heath                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0709 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
       &    CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

AED
Local storm report, Jul 3, 8:15 PM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
815 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    HEATH                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0709 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    SWANSEY                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0713 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO RTE 12
           CHESHIRE                       SOUTH OF KEENE...BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED ON FAIR GROUND.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0715 PM    MARLO                     NH   TREES DOWN
           CHESHIRE

0740 PM    MARLBOROUGH               NH   BUILDING COLLAPSED,
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

AED
Local storm report, Jul 3, 8:18 PM EDT, 1 hour 48 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
815 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    HEATH                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0709 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    SWANSEY                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0713 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO RTE 12
           CHESHIRE                       SOUTH OF KEENE...BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED ON FAIR GROUND.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0715 PM    MARLO                     NH   TREES DOWN
    R       CHESHIRE

0740 PM    MARLBOROUGH               NH   BUILDING COLLAPSED,
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

AED
Local storm report, Jul 3, 8:55 PM EDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
855 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    HEATH                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0703 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
                                          (TIME OF EVENT CORRECTED)

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    SWANSEY                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0713 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO RTE 12
           CHESHIRE                       SOUTH OF KEENE...BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED ON FAIR GROUND.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0715 PM    MARLO                     NH   TREES DOWN
           CHESHIRE

0740 PM    MARLBOROUGH               NH   BUILDING COLLAPSED,
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0743 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO ON GROUND
           CHESHIRE                       WITH SEVERAL BUILDINGS
                                          DESTROYED. REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER.

0800 PM    GREENFIELD                NH   TORNADO. TORNADO DAMAGED A
           HILLSBOROUGH                   RECYCLING CENTER. REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTER.

AED
Local storm report, Jul 3, 8:56 PM EDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
855 PM EDT THU JUl 3 1997

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0640 PM    HEATH                     MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND PER FIRE DEPT.

0645 PM    WALPOLE                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES DOWN PER POLICE DEPT.

0650 PM    HINSDALE                  NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       POSSIBLE TORNADO

0703 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   TORNADO. TORNADO
           FRANKLIN                       ON GROUND ON RTE 2
                                          PER EMERGENCY PERSONNEL
                                          (TIME OF EVENT CORRECTED)

0710 PM    CHARLEMONT                MA   WIND DAMAGE
           FRANKLIN                       WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    ALSTEAD                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0710 PM    SWANSEY                   NH   WIND DAMAGE
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0713 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO RTE 12
           CHESHIRE                       SOUTH OF KEENE...BUILDING
                                          DESTROYED ON FAIR GROUND.
                                          REPORTED BY PUBLIC

0715 PM    MARLO                     NH   TREES DOWN
           CHESHIRE

0740 PM    MARLBOROUGH               NH   BUILDING COLLAPSED,
           CHESHIRE                       TREES UPROOTED

0743 PM    KEENE                     NH   TORNADO. TORNADO ON GROUND
           CHESHIRE                       WITH SEVERAL BUILDINGS
                                          DESTROYED. REPORTED BY
                                          SPOTTER.

0800 PM    GREENFIELD                NH   TORNADO. TORNADO DAMAGED A
           HILLSBOROUGH                   RECYCLING CENTER. REPORTED
                                          BY SPOTTER.

AED

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 3, 8:27 PM EDTTornado WarningBOXFranklin, Worcester63 min
Jul 3, 8:44 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampshire61 min
Jul 3, 8:49 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXFranklin3 hr
Jul 3, 9:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXMiddlesex68 min
Jul 3, 11:23 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXBarnstable52 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1997Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.