Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 24, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 5:53 PM EDT for Worcester County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 47 min. 2 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
- May 31, 1998, 5:53 PM EDT (21:53 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 6:40 PM 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 21:54 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, 6:03 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 61 | Winchendon, MA | |
| May 31, 6:30 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 50 | Phillipston, 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 watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 5:45 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 5 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 9.9 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 312153 RRA SVRBOS MAC027-312240- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 553 PM 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 640 PM EDT * AT 550 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM FRANKLIN COUNTY FROM BERNARSTON THROUGH SHELBURN... MOVING EAST NEAR 50 MPH. * TOWNS IN/NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY FROM PETERSHAM TO ROYALSTON BY 600 PM CONTINUING EAST REACHING WINCHENDON...TEMPLETON AND PHILLIPSTON BY 610 PM. THIS STORM HAS PRODUCED WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY WITHIN THE LAST 10 MINUTES. A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. REMEMBER THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARzNING. DRV/JL
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, 12:10 PM EDT, 5 hours 43 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255-010200- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1210 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY FOR LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING POSSIBLY ACCOMPANIED BY ISOLATED TORNADOES... AT NOON...A SQUALL LINE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WAS MOVING EAST AT 60 MPH. SHOULD THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLD TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL REACH WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AROUND 3 PM AND PASS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND BY 5 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 60 MPH FROM THE GREAT LAKES STATES THROUGH CENTRAL NEW YORK...DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE DAMAGING WIND...HAIL...AND ISOLATE TORNADOES MAY OCCUR IS FROM THE WORCESTER HILLS WEST THROUGH THE BERKSHIRES...INCLUDING THE TOWNS OF HARTFORD...SPRINGFIELD... WORCESTER...GREENFIELD AND JAFFREY. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. HOWEVER...RESIDENTS IN THE METRO AREAS OF PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER THIS AFTERNOON...YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. JL/LJC
Local storm report, May 31, 1:34 PM EDT, 4 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
134 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1117 AM GARDNER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 WORCESTER
1158 AM CHELMSFORD CENTER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX 3-4 INCH DIAMETER TREES
DOWN IN NEARBY LITTLETON
AT NOON
1158 AM PEABODY MA .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEX
1210 PM PEABODY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEXLocal storm report, May 31, 1:34 PM EDT, 4 hours 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
134 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1117 AM GARDNER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 WORCESTER
1158 AM CHELMSFORD CENTER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX 3-4 INCH DIAMETER TREES
DOWN IN NEARBY LITTLETON
AT NOON
1158 AM PEABODY MA .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEX
1210 PM PEABODY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEXSpecial weather statement, May 31, 1:35 PM EDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255-010400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 135 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY FOR LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING POSSIBLY ACCOMPANIED BY ISOLATED TORNADOES... AT 130 PM...A SQUALL LINE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WAS MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. SHOULD THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLD TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL REACH WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN 5 AND 6 PM AND PASS THROUGH THE BOSTON METRO AREA BETWEEN 8 AND 10 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 60 MPH FROM THE GREAT LAKES STATES THROUGH CENTRAL NEW YORK... DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE DAMAGING WIND...HAIL...AND ISOLATE TORNADOES MAY OCCUR IS FROM THE WORCESTER HILLS WEST THROUGH THE BERKSHIRES...INCLUDING THE TOWNS OF HARTFORD...SPRINGFIELD... WORCESTER...GREENFIELD AND JAFFREY. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. HOWEVER...RESIDENTS IN THE METRO AREAS OF PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER THIS AFTERNOON...YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. JL/LJC
Special weather statement, May 31, 1:35 PM EDT, 4 hours 18 minutes before
MAZ002>024-RIZALL-CTZ002>004-NHZ011-012-ANZ230>-237-250-255-010400- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 135 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 ...DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL ARE LIKELY FOR LOCATIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING POSSIBLY ACCOMPANIED BY ISOLATED TORNADOES... AT 130 PM...A SQUALL LINE IN WESTERN NEW YORK WAS MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. SHOULD THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HOLD TOGETHER AND MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT SPEED...IT WILL REACH WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BETWEEN 5 AND 6 PM AND PASS THROUGH THE BOSTON METRO AREA BETWEEN 8 AND 10 PM. THERE ALREADY HAVE BEEN MANY REPORTS OF WINDS OVER 60 MPH FROM THE GREAT LAKES STATES THROUGH CENTRAL NEW YORK... DOWNING NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES. THE MOST LIKELY AREA WHERE DAMAGING WIND...HAIL...AND ISOLATE TORNADOES MAY OCCUR IS FROM THE WORCESTER HILLS WEST THROUGH THE BERKSHIRES...INCLUDING THE TOWNS OF HARTFORD...SPRINGFIELD... WORCESTER...GREENFIELD AND JAFFREY. COOLER AIR ON INCREASING SOUTHERLY WINDS OFF THE OCEAN IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE SOME OF THE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING WIND ALONG THE COAST. HOWEVER...RESIDENTS IN THE METRO AREAS OF PROVIDENCE AND BOSTON SHOULD STAY ABREAST OF CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS. MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR 50 KNOT WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. IF A TORNADO OR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS ISSUED LATER THIS AFTERNOON...YOU SHOULD REVIEW SAFE SHELTER PLANS IN CASE THREATENING WEATHER OR WARNINGS ARE ISSUED FOR YOUR AREA. JL/LJC
Local storm report, May 31, 2:25 PM EDT, 3 hours 28 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
225 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1117 AM GARDNER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 WORCESTER
1158 AM CHELMSFORD CENTER MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX 3-4 INCH DIAMETER TREES
DOWN IN NEARBY LITTLETON
AT NOON
1158 AM PEABODY MA .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEX
1208 PM LOWELL MA .88 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX
1210 PM PEABODY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 ESSEXThe office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 11:03 AM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Worcester | 47 min |
| 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, 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.