Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 19, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 11:03 AM EDT for Worcester County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 47 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
- May 31, 1998, 11:03 AM EDT (15:03 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 11:50 AM EDT
- In force
- 47 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Worcester County, MA
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 77 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:03 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
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 11:17 AM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Gardner, 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
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 3.1 hours before the alert went out and 162 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1673 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 188 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 264 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000 TTAA00 KBOS 311503 RRA SVRBOS MAC027-311550- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1103 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS * UNTIL 1150 AM EDT * AT 1057 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR PETERSHAM AND BARRE... MOVING EAST TO NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. * TOWNS IN/NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... HUBBARDSTON...WESTMINSTER...LEOMINSTER AND PRINCETON THIS STORM HAS ALREADY PRODUCED SMALL HAIL AND WILL PULSE STRONGER A AT TIMES IN ITS JOURNEY ACROSS NORTHERN WORCESTE@R COUNTY IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...THIS STORM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS. DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD. RMT/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, May 31, 6:33 AM EDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255--010200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 633 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND OR LARGE HAIL IS LIKELY FOR A FEW LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THIS STATEMENT MAY BE UPDATED JUST BEFORE NOON...ESPECIALLY IF THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES IS GREATER. A SQUALL LINE IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AT 6 AM WAS MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH. IF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLDS TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL BARREL THROUGH SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 70 MPH IN THE GREAT LAKES STATES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE POCKETS OF DAMAGING WIND AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO COULD OCCUR IS FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT NORTH THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS INTO THE FAR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES OF CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH. LIGHTNING WILL CAUSE MANY POWER OUTAGES. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. EVEN SO...MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IN THE MEANTIME...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BRING BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY HAIL IN 1 OR 2 LOCATIONS. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER TODAY... YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. DRAG
Special weather statement, May 31, 6:33 AM EDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255--010200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 633 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND OR LARGE HAIL IS LIKELY FOR A FEW LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THIS STATEMENT MAY BE UPDATED JUST BEFORE NOON...ESPECIALLY IF THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES IS GREATER. A SQUALL LINE IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AT 6 AM WAS MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH. IF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLDS TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL BARREL THROUGH SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 70 MPH IN THE GREAT LAKES STATES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE POCKETS OF DAMAGING WIND AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO COULD OCCUR IS FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT NORTH THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS INTO THE FAR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES OF CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH. LIGHTNING WILL CAUSE MANY POWER OUTAGES. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. EVEN SO...MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IN THE MEANTIME...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BRING BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY HAIL IN 1 OR 2 LOCATIONS. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER TODAY... YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. DRAG
Special weather statement, May 31, 6:42 AM EDT, 4 hours 21 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255--010200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..MINOR CORRECTION NEXT TO LAST PGH.. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 642 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND OR LARGE HAIL IS LIKELY FOR A FEW LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THIS STATEMENT MAY BE UPDATED JUST BEFORE NOON...ESPECIALLY IF THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES IS GREATER. A SQUALL LINE IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AT 6 AM WAS MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH. IF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLDS TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL BARREL THROUGH SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 70 MPH IN THE GREAT LAKES STATES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE POCKETS OF DAMAGING WIND AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO COULD OCCUR IS FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT NORTH THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS INTO THE FAR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES OF CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH. LIGHTNING WILL CAUSE MANY POWER OUTAGES. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. EVEN SO...MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IN THE MEANTIME...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BRINGING BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY HAIL TO 1 OR 2 LOCATIONS. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER TODAY... YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. DRAG
Special weather statement, May 31, 6:42 AM EDT, 4 hours 21 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255--010200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT..MINOR CORRECTION NEXT TO LAST PGH.. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 642 AM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND OR LARGE HAIL IS LIKELY FOR A FEW LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING... THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THIS STATEMENT MAY BE UPDATED JUST BEFORE NOON...ESPECIALLY IF THE THREAT FOR TORNADOES IS GREATER. A SQUALL LINE IN THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES AT 6 AM WAS MOVING EAST AT 70 MPH. IF THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLDS TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL BARREL THROUGH SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BETWEEN 2 AND 5 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 70 MPH IN THE GREAT LAKES STATES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE POCKETS OF DAMAGING WIND AND POSSIBLY A TORNADO COULD OCCUR IS FROM THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY OF NORTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT NORTH THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS INTO THE FAR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES OF CHESHIRE AND HILLSBOROUGH. LIGHTNING WILL CAUSE MANY POWER OUTAGES. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. EVEN SO...MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IN THE MEANTIME...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR THIS MORNING IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BRINGING BRIEF TORRENTIAL RAINS AND POSSIBLY HAIL TO 1 OR 2 LOCATIONS. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER TODAY... YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. DRAG
The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 11:46 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex | 44 min |
| May 31, 12:06 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Essex | 44 min |
| May 31, 5:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Franklin, Hampshire | 60 min |
| May 31, 5:30 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BOX | Franklin | 50 min |
| May 31, 5:39 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BOX | Hampshire | 46 min |
| May 31, 5:53 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Worcester | 47 min |
| May 31, 6:13 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex | 47 min |
| May 31, 6:23 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Franklin | 32 min |
| May 31, 6:34 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Essex | 61 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 1998Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1998
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.