Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2004
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 43, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 2004, 4:33 PM EDT for Franklin County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 27 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 20, 2004, 4:33 PM EDT (20:33 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 20, 2004, 5:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 27 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Counties, with a storm outline in the text
Counties Franklin County, MA, Hampshire County, MA
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 117 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:35 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 1:05 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 8.6 hours before the alert went out and 120 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
- 244 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -24 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 569 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 77 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 142 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.2
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
000
WUUS51 KBOX 202033
SVRBOX
MAC011-015-202100-
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
432 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF AMHERST
* UNTIL 500 PM EDT
* AT 431 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR AMHERST...AND
MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.
* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
PELHAM AND SHUTESBURY BY 445 PM EDT
6 MILES SOUTH OF NEW SALEM BY 450 PM EDT
IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO
GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. MOVE INDOORS
IMMEDIATELY LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS.
REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
LAT...LON 4251 7264 4251 7226 4248 7229 4243 7229
4240 7231 4236 7231 4235 7229 4231 7228
4233 7264 4234 7265
$$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.
NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 20, 4:18 PM EDT, 15 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 4:18 PM EDT, 15 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 415 PM FRI AUG 20 2004 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR MUCH OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND AND NORTHEAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS UNTIL 7 PM.... .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND SATURDAY COMING SOON && .LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH NEXT FRIDAY MID RANGE ENSEMBLE FORECASTS IN GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING THE TIMING OF THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE SATURDAY EVENING. WILL KEEP LINGERING EVENING SHOWERS AND CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND PORTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND DURING SATURDAY EVENING. OTHERWISE HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY...PROVIDING A DRIER AND COOLER DAY. THE HIGH WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH MONDAY. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NORTH MONDAY NIGHT. THE BEST VORTICITY ADVECTION...STRONGEST AND MOST FAVORABLE WIND FIELDS FOR DYNAMIC FORCING WILL CROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THERE WILL BE LIMITED MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COLD FRONT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE FORECAST AREA BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY. THUS DID NOT MENTION CHANCE POPS AT THIS TIME. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD FROM NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND DURING THE MIDWEEK PERIOD PROVIDING DRY AIR AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. LOW PRESSURE CROSSING THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES WILL SEND AN INITIAL SHORT WAVE (INSTABILITY BURST) WITH WARMER AND MORE HUMID AIR BY FRIDAY. INCLUDED A CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR DAY 7. && .AVIATION... COMING SOON .MARINE... IN THE LONGER TERM...SOUTHERLY SWELL UP TO 7 FT CAN BE EXPECTED SATURDAY EVENING...THOUGH THE SWELL IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH ON SUNDAY. OTHERWISE WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. MA...NONE. NH...NONE. RI...NONE. MARINE... .SHORT TERM...DRAG .LONG TERM...STRAUSS
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 11:12 AM EDT, 5 hours 21 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1112 AM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-211113- BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT- NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT- WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT- 1112 AM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT...MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... THIS UPDATE IS TO UPGRADE THE RISK OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS FROM HARTFORD AND TOLLAND COUNTIES NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH WORCESTER... NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES NORTHWARD INTO SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN 3 PM AND MIDNIGHT. THE RISK IS FOR DAMAGING WIND AND OR LARGE HAIL LATE TODAY OR EARLY TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY THROUGH WORCESTER COUNTY INTO NORTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS UP INTO SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE (HFD-IJD-OWD-NZW NORTHWARD). BRIEF STREET FLOODING RAINS ARE ANTICIPATED... A COUPLE OF SPOTS MAY RECEIVE 3 INCHES IN 90 MINUTES. WE ARE EXPECTING THAT SEVERE WEATHER WILL OCCUR IN AT LEAST TWO COUNTIES BY MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. HEAT WILL BE THE DRIVER IN HARTFORD AND HAMPDEN COUNTIES MID OR LATE AFTERNOON...LOOKING FOR THUNDERSTORMS TO FORM BETWEEN POUGHKEEPSIE AND LITCHFIELD COUNTY AROUND 3 PM. FURTHER NORTH A LONGER DURATION THREAT IS EXPECTED WITH A LATE AFTERNOON PULSE AND THEN POSSIBLY ANOTHER LATE THIS EVENING. SKYWARN ACTIVIATION IS ANTICIPATED FOR WITH A POSSIBLE OPERATOR REQUEST FOR THE OFFICE BEGINNING AROUND 3 OR 4 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... LIKELY SHOWERS AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS A STRONGER COLD FRONT CROSSES THE REGION SATURDAY NIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED FROM SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS ANTICIPATED LATE TODAY AS DISCUSSED IN THE DAY ONE PORTION. DRAG
In the hours before
Local storm report, Aug 20, 3:00 PM EDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
300 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 0.88 INCH WORCESTER MA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0250 PM HAIL LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 1.00 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM TSTM WND DMG LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN
0255 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREES DOWN
&&
TLMLocal storm report, Aug 20, 3:03 PM EDT, 1 hour 30 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
303 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 0.88 INCH WORCESTER MA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0250 PM HAIL LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 1.00 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM TSTM WND DMG LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN
0255 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL DENTING CARS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREES DOWN
&&
TLMLocal storm report, Aug 20, 3:37 PM EDT, 56 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
337 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 0.88 INCH WORCESTER MA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0250 PM HAIL LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 1.00 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM TSTM WND DMG LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN
0255 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL DENTING CARS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREES DOWN
0325 PM TSTM WND DMG CHELMSFORD 42.60N 71.37W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN
&&
TLMLocal storm report, Aug 20, 4:04 PM EDT, 29 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
404 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 0.88 INCH WORCESTER MA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0250 PM HAIL LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 1.00 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL DENTING CARS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0255 PM TSTM WND DMG LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREES DOWN
0325 PM HAIL LOWELL 42.64N 71.32W
08/20/2004 0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0325 PM TSTM WND DMG CHELMSFORD 42.60N 71.37W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN
&&
TLMLocal storm report, Aug 20, 4:31 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
431 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0225 PM HAIL ASHBURNHAM 42.63N 71.90W
08/20/2004 0.88 INCH WORCESTER MA FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0250 PM HAIL LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 1.00 INCH WORCESTER MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0255 PM TSTM WND DMG LUNENBURG 42.60N 71.73W
08/20/2004 WORCESTER MA AMATEUR RADIO
NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS UP TO 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER DOWN
0255 PM HAIL TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 1.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
HAIL DENTING CARS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0258 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWNSEND 42.67N 71.70W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
LARGE TREES DOWN
0325 PM HAIL LOWELL 42.64N 71.32W
08/20/2004 0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
SOUTHERN PART OF TOWN
0325 PM TSTM WND DMG CHELMSFORD 42.60N 71.37W
08/20/2004 MIDDLESEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
TREES DOWN
0428 PM HAIL WHATELY 42.45N 72.62W
08/20/2004 0.25 INCH FRANKLIN MA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
TLMSpecial weather statement, Aug 20, 4:31 PM EDT, 2 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 431 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004 MAZ002-003-008-010-202100- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- 431 PM EDT FRI AUG 20 2004 AT 427 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HAIL UP TO 3/4 INCH...NEAR WHATELY...OR ABOUT 8 MILES NORTH OF NORTHAMPTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM HAD 3/8 INCH HAIL IN WILLIAMSBURG...AND PEA SIZE HAIL IN WHATELY. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...LEVERETT AND MONTAGUE BY 440 PM EDT...SHUTESBURY AND WENDELL BY 450 PM EDT...NEW SALEM AND 7 MILES SOUTH OF ORANGE BY 500 PM EDT. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FRIDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND RHODE ISLAND.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 1:59 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Worcester | 31 min |
| Aug 20, 2:07 PM EDT | Tornado Warning | BOX | Worcester | 23 min |
| Aug 20, 2:28 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex, Worcester | 32 min |
| Aug 20, 2:58 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex, Worcester | 47 min |
| Aug 20, 3:25 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Essex, Middlesex | 50 min |
| Aug 20, 3:51 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 84 min | |
| Aug 20, 4:29 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Essex, Middlesex | 46 min |
| Aug 20, 5:27 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 48 min | |
| Aug 20, 6:03 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex, Worcester | 42 min |
| Aug 20, 6:41 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk | 49 min |
| Aug 20, 6:46 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 89 min | |
| Aug 20, 6:46 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 89 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2004Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2004
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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.