Alert archive / Rhode Island / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1998
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 44, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 31, 1998, 11:00 PM EDT for Providence County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 35 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, 11:00 PM EDT (03:00 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 1998, 11:35 PM EDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Whole counties
County Providence County, RI
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 38 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 03:03 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, 11:03 PM EDT | Hail 0.75 | Cranston, RI | |
| May 31, 11:07 PM EDT | Thunderstorm Wind 50 | Lincoln, RI |
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 |
| May 31, 8:00 PM EDT | Tornado Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 00:00Z, 3.0 hours before the alert went out and 135 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
- 1405 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 92 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 127 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
719 WUUS1 KBOS 010302 SVRBOS RIC007-010335- BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING...CORRECTION TO TIME NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1100 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... PROVIDENCE COUNTY IN NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND * UNTIL 1135 PM EDT * AT 1055 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OVER WOONSOCKET SOUTHWEST TO FOSTER... MOVING EAST NEAR 55 MPH. * TOWNS IN/NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... SCITUATE THROUGH DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE NORTH THROUGH CUMBERLAND THROUGH 1130 PM. TREES AND POWERLINES HAVE BEEN BLOWN DOWN IN WOONSOCKET WITH 1/2 INCH HAIL IN FOSTER. 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 WARNING. 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
Local storm report, May 31, 10:00 PM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1000 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0946 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDENLocal storm report, May 31, 10:00 PM EDT, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1000 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0946 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDENLocal storm report, May 31, 10:10 PM EDT, 50 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1010 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1008 PM NEW BRAINTREE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER MULTIPLE TREES AND
POWERLINES DOWN. DIME
SIZED HAIL ALSO.Local storm report, May 31, 10:17 PM EDT, 43 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1017 PM EDT SUN MAY 31 1998
TIME(EDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
1012 PM WORCESTER MA 94 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 WORCESTER ASOS WIND REPORT. TIME
ESTIMATED AT THIS TIMELocal storm report, May 31, 10:47 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1047 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 ESSEX
0532 PM WALPOLE NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN
WALPOLE PER LAW
ENFORCEMENT
0545 PM COLRAIN MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN IN MUCH OF
FRANKLIN CPOUNTY...BETWEEN
1730-1800 EDT. ALSO
CONWAY...GILL...LEYD
EN...NORTHFIELD...WARWICK
0550 PM SHELBURNE FALLS MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
DOWN
0558 PM GREENFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN WIRES DOWN IN GREENFIELD.
EARLIER ESTIMATED 68 MPH
AT 545 PM EDT
0600 PM KEENE NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM WESTMORELAND NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM SWANZEY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM SULLIVAN NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM WINCHESTER NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES THROWN THROUGH
HOUSES
0600 PM JAFFREY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES DOWNED...ROADS
CLOSED AND POWER OUT. TIME
OF EVENT BASED ON RADAR
PSN OF BOW ECHO
0603 PM ATHOL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER LIMBS DOWN...SIZE UNKNOWN
0605 PM SHELBURNE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 2
0605 PM WINCHENDON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER *** 2 DEAD ***
TWO FATALITIES AS TREE
FELL ON A CAR ON RTE 202
PER WINCHENDON PD
0610 PM WINCHENDON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER WIND GUSTS 65 MPH
ESTIMATED
0610 PM NORTHFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN AND POWER OUT
0610 PM TEMPLETON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0615 PM ANTRIM NH
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH LIGHTNING STRUCK GREAT
BROOK SCHOOL BY
HILLSBOROUGH PD
0615 PM ANTRIM NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0620 PM DEERFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN 1 TREE DOWN
0620 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH ESTIMATED 65 MPH IN SOUTH
NASHUA BY PRIVATE
METEOROLOGIST
0622 PM TOWNSEND MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX ANEMOMETER SUSTAINED 55
MPH...LIMBS DOWN
0623 PM PEPPERELL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX *** 1 INJ ***
TWO TREES DOWN. ONE
TOTALED A CAR WITH 1
PERSON SLIGHTLY INJ BUT
REFUSED TREATMENT.
POWERLINES DOWN ALL OVER
TOO.
0630 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH LARGE PINE TREES DOWN BY
NWS EMPLOYEE
0630 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH TREES DOWN SOUTHWEST PART
OF NASHUA
0630 PM PHILLIPSTON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON
ROYALSTON ROAD
0635 PM SOUTH DEERFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN 1 TREE DOWN
0640 PM GROTON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX 4 INCH DIAMETER LIMB
DOWNED ON RTE 40
0640 PM ORANGE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TWO TREES DOWN. PART OF A
THIRD TREE LANDED ON A
TRUCK DAMAGING THE ROOF
AND WINDSHIELD. NO
INJURIES.
0645 PM HAVERHILL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ESSEX TREES DOWN
0704 PM METHUEN MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ESSEX TREES DOWN BY THE METHUEN
PD
0815 PM WALPOLE NH 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE VEHICLES DAMAGED BY
GOLFBALL HAIL
0818 PM WALPOLE NH 1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE 1.1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
0825 PM SWANZEY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE BRANCHES AND POWER LINES
DOWN
0830 PM SURRY NH 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE FROM FAMILY OF THE POLICE
CHIEF
0831 PM STODDARD NH .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE 3/4 INCH HAIL REPORTED
FROM KEENE EMERGENCY
DISPATCH
0907 PM BUCKLAND MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 FRANKLIN HAM RADIO OPR REPORT
0930 PM SOUTH HADLEY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPSHIRE
0932 PM GRANBY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPSHIRE
0935 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN HAM RADIO OPERATOR
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0945 PM WINDSOR CT 65 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 HARTFORD SPOTTER REPORT...CONFIRMED
BY TREES DOWN PER PD
0946 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0951 PM WINDSOR LOCKS CT 61 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 HARTFORD BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL ASOS
1008 PM NEW BRAINTREE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER MULTIPLE TREES AND
POWERLINES DOWN. DIME
SIZED HAIL ALSO.
1012 PM WORCESTER MA 94 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 WORCESTER ASOS WIND REPORT. TIME
ESTIMATED AT THIS TIME
1015 PM NEW BRAINTREE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES 2 AND 1/2 FEET IN
DIAMETER BLOWN DOWN
1018 PM WEST BROOKFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 WORCESTER
1020 PM LEOMINSTER MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES DOWN BY HAM RADIO
OPERATORLocal storm report, May 31, 10:47 PM EDT, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MASSACHUSETTS
1047 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 ESSEX
0532 PM WALPOLE NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN
WALPOLE PER LAW
ENFORCEMENT
0545 PM COLRAIN MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN IN MUCH OF
FRANKLIN CPOUNTY...BETWEEN
1730-1800 EDT. ALSO
CONWAY...GILL...LEYD
EN...NORTHFIELD...WARWICK
0550 PM SHELBURNE FALLS MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
DOWN
0558 PM GREENFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN WIRES DOWN IN GREENFIELD.
EARLIER ESTIMATED 68 MPH
AT 545 PM EDT
0600 PM KEENE NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM WESTMORELAND NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM SWANZEY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM SULLIVAN NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0600 PM WINCHESTER NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES THROWN THROUGH
HOUSES
0600 PM JAFFREY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE TREES DOWNED...ROADS
CLOSED AND POWER OUT. TIME
OF EVENT BASED ON RADAR
PSN OF BOW ECHO
0603 PM ATHOL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER LIMBS DOWN...SIZE UNKNOWN
0605 PM SHELBURNE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN ON ROUTE 2
0605 PM WINCHENDON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER *** 2 DEAD ***
TWO FATALITIES AS TREE
FELL ON A CAR ON RTE 202
PER WINCHENDON PD
0610 PM WINCHENDON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER WIND GUSTS 65 MPH
ESTIMATED
0610 PM NORTHFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TREES DOWN AND POWER OUT
0610 PM TEMPLETON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER POWER OUTAGES DUE TO WIND
0615 PM ANTRIM NH
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH LIGHTNING STRUCK GREAT
BROOK SCHOOL BY
HILLSBOROUGH PD
0615 PM ANTRIM NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH NUMEROUS TREES DOWN
0620 PM DEERFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN 1 TREE DOWN
0620 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH ESTIMATED 65 MPH IN SOUTH
NASHUA BY PRIVATE
METEOROLOGIST
0622 PM TOWNSEND MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX ANEMOMETER SUSTAINED 55
MPH...LIMBS DOWN
0623 PM PEPPERELL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX *** 1 INJ ***
TWO TREES DOWN. ONE
TOTALED A CAR WITH 1
PERSON SLIGHTLY INJ BUT
REFUSED TREATMENT.
POWERLINES DOWN ALL OVER
TOO.
0630 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH LARGE PINE TREES DOWN BY
NWS EMPLOYEE
0630 PM NASHUA NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 HILLSBOROUGH TREES DOWN SOUTHWEST PART
OF NASHUA
0630 PM PHILLIPSTON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES AND WIRES DOWN ON
ROYALSTON ROAD
0635 PM SOUTH DEERFIELD MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN 1 TREE DOWN
0640 PM GROTON MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 MIDDLESEX 4 INCH DIAMETER LIMB
DOWNED ON RTE 40
0640 PM ORANGE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 FRANKLIN TWO TREES DOWN. PART OF A
THIRD TREE LANDED ON A
TRUCK DAMAGING THE ROOF
AND WINDSHIELD. NO
INJURIES.
0645 PM HAVERHILL MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ESSEX TREES DOWN
0704 PM METHUEN MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 ESSEX TREES DOWN BY THE METHUEN
PD
0815 PM WALPOLE NH 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE VEHICLES DAMAGED BY
GOLFBALL HAIL
0818 PM WALPOLE NH 1 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE 1.1 INCH DIAMETER HAIL
0825 PM SWANZEY NH WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 CHESHIRE BRANCHES AND POWER LINES
DOWN
0830 PM SURRY NH 1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE FROM FAMILY OF THE POLICE
CHIEF
0831 PM STODDARD NH .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 CHESHIRE 3/4 INCH HAIL REPORTED
FROM KEENE EMERGENCY
DISPATCH
0907 PM BUCKLAND MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 FRANKLIN HAM RADIO OPR REPORT
0930 PM SOUTH HADLEY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPSHIRE
0932 PM GRANBY MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPSHIRE
0935 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN HAM RADIO OPERATOR
0940 PM WEST SPRINGFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0945 PM WINDSOR CT 65 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 HARTFORD SPOTTER REPORT...CONFIRMED
BY TREES DOWN PER PD
0946 PM CHICOPEE MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 HAMPDEN
0951 PM WINDSOR LOCKS CT 61 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 HARTFORD BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL ASOS
1008 PM NEW BRAINTREE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER MULTIPLE TREES AND
POWERLINES DOWN. DIME
SIZED HAIL ALSO.
1012 PM WORCESTER MA 94 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/98 WORCESTER ASOS WIND REPORT. TIME
ESTIMATED AT THIS TIME
1015 PM NEW BRAINTREE MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES 2 AND 1/2 FEET IN
DIAMETER BLOWN DOWN
1018 PM WEST BROOKFIELD MA .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/98 WORCESTER
1020 PM LEOMINSTER MA WIND DAMAGE
05/31/98 WORCESTER TREES DOWN BY HAM RADIO
OPERATORThe office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 10:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Providence | 35 min |
| May 31, 10:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Kent | 50 min |
| May 31, 10:40 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Bristol | 50 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Rhode Island, 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.