Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2010

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 3, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

May 4, 2010Franklin County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 4, 2010, 3:21 PM EDT for Franklin County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 39 min. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 4, 2010, 3:21 PM EDT (19:21 UTC)
Expired
May 4, 2010, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon

County Franklin County, MA

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 94 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:21 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
May 4, 3:57 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGColrain, MALARGE TREES DOWN ON MAIN ST

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 36 minutes after it went out.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
May 4, 1:24 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 7.4 hours before the alert went out and 75 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2010-05-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2010-05-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 19 square meters per square second.1939587897117136156175Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1395 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
67 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
19 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
58 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

876 
WUUS51 KBOX 041921
SVRBOX
MAC011-042000-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0003.100504T1921Z-100504T2000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
321 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...

* UNTIL 400 PM EDT...

* AT 317 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM      
  CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 21 MILES WEST OF MONROE...OR 13 MILES WEST OF
  NORTH ADAMS...AND MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.

* THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  ROWE...MONROE AND CHARLEMONT BY 340 PM...
  HEATH AND BUCKLAND BY 345 PM...
  COLRAIN AND BUCKLAND BY 350 PM...
  LEYDEN AND GREENFIELD BY 355 PM...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DAMAGING WINDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. THIS IS A 
DANGEROUS STORM...SEEK SAFE SHELTER AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS!

&&

LAT...LON 4274 7302 4273 7256 4249 7259 4256 7297
      4265 7295 4267 7298 4268 7298 4270 7296
      4270 7302 4274 7303
TIME...MOT...LOC 1919Z 274DEG 51KT 4271 7333

$$

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 May 4, 3:09 PM EDT, 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 4, 3:09 PM EDT, 12 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
309 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

.SYNOPSIS...
A SERIES OF FRONTAL SYSTEMS WILL AFFECT NEW ENGLAND THROUGH THE
REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. WHILE IT WILL BE GENERALLY DRY...THESE FRONTAL
SYSTEMS MAY PRODUCE A SHOWER OR GUSTY THUNDERSTORM AS THEY MOVE
THROUGH.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
ANY CONVECTION WILL DIMINISH IN BOTH INTENSITY AND COVERAGE AS THE
NIGHT PROGRESSES. LOW TEMPS SHOULD RANGE FROM THE LOWER 40S WELL NORTH
TO THE LOWER 50S SE MA.

WINDS TURN TO THE WEST/NW BEHIND A COLD FRONT...AND SKIES WILL CLEAR.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/...
TROUGH PASSES EAST AS RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS. WED SHOULD BE
DRY AS THE RIDGE PASSES. FAST MOVING SYSTEMS IN PROGRESSIVE FLOW
WILL RESULT IN NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING THURSDAY. MORE SHOWERS AND
POSSIBLE TSTMS EXPECTED AS THE SHORTWAVE PASSES. BRIEF RIDGE THURSDAY
NIGHT...FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE NEXT TROUGH...AND STRONGER SFC LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM THAT APPROACHES NEW ENGLAND FRIDAY. MORE MOISTURE IS
TAPPED WITH THIS SYSTEM...BUT TIMING SHOULD RESULT IN ANOTHER DRY
DAY FRIDAY.

LEANED TOWARD MET NUMBERS THROUGH THURSDAY...THEN GRIDDED MOS FRIDAY.

&&

.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
OVERALL TREND IS FOR TROUGH TO SLOWLY DEPART NEW ENGLAND THIS WEEKEND.
CWA THEN REMAINS BETWEEN AFOREMENTIONED TROUGH TO THE EAST AND UPSTREAM
TROUGH ACROSS THE MID WEST EARLY NEXT WEEK.

SENSIBLE WEATHER DETAILS...
SATURDAY...
LIKELY SHRA/TSTMS AS UPPER TROUGH AND SFC LOW PASSES ACROSS NEW
ENGLAND. UPPER CLOSED LOW IS SLOW TO EXIT...THUS RESULTING IN
LINGERING INSTABILITY SHRA/TSTMS INTO SAT NIGHT.

SUNDAY AND MONDAY...
POSSIBLE LINGERING SHOWERS SUNDAY...THEN DRYING AS TROUGH AXIS PASSES
FAR ENOUGH TO THE EAST. RIDGE WILL ENSURE DRY WEATHER INTO MONDAY.
MUCH COOLER TEMPS ANTICIPATED IN NW FLOW BEHIND THIS SYSTEM WITH 850
TEMPS PLUMMETING TO AROUND ZERO OR BELOW.

TUESDAY...DRY WITH MODERATING TEMPS AS HEIGHTS INCREASE.

&&

.AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
THIS AFTERNOON...
VFR...WITH SCATTERED SUB VFR IN CONVECTION. GREATEST RISK FOR GUSTY
THUNDERSTORMS IS 20Z-23Z. OTRW GENERAL WLY GUSTS OF 21 TO 26 KTS.

TONIGHT...VFR WITH WEST/NW WINDS.

WEDNESDAY...HIGH CONFIDENCE VFR.

OUTLOOK...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...

WEDNESDAY NIGHT...VFR LIKELY.

THURSDAY...MVFR CEILINGS AND VSBYS LIKELY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
POSSIBLY THUNDERSTORMS.

FRIDAY...VFR LIKELY.

SATURDAY...MVFR/IFR CEILINGS AND VSBYS IN SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SOME TIME SAT/SAT NIGHT.

&&

.MARINE...
PLS SEE MWW.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES CONTINUE FOR PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN WATERS
THROUGH TONIGHT WITH STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY SWELL KEEPING SEAS IN THE
4 TO 7 FOOT RANGE.

ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE INTO THE EVENING HOURS AS
FRONT PASSES BY. HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY
KEEPING WINDS AND SEAS BELOW SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA.

OUTLOOK...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY

WED NIGHT...
SW WINDS BEGIN TO INCREASE.

THU...
SW WINDS 20-30 KT BECOME W WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE SOMETIME IN THE
AFTN. SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A TSTM ACCOMPANY THE FRONTAL PASSAGE.

FRI...
W-NW EASE AS HIGH PRES BUILDS OVER THE AREA.

SAT...
LOW PRES MOVES THRU PA AND NY WITH MODEST SW WINDS OVER NEW ENGLAND.
SHOWERS AND POSSIBLY A TSTM WILL LIMIT VSBY.

SUN...NW FLOW BEHIND STORM SYSTEM.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...NONE.
MA...NONE.
NH...NONE.
RI...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ANZ231-
     250-254.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ANZ235.
     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 5 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ255-256.

&&

SYNOPSIS...99
NEAR TERM...99
SHORT TERM...99
LONG TERM...99
AVIATION...99
MARINE...99
Hazardous weather outlook, May 4, 1:29 PM EDT, 1 hour 52 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
129 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

CTZ002-003-MAZ002>004-008>012-NHZ011-012-015-051400-
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
129 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 139 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH RAINFALL IS RECEIVED TODAY...THERE COULD BE
AN ELEVATED RISK OF FIRE SPREAD WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ACROSS MOST
OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

CTZ004-MAZ005>007-013>024-026-RIZ001>008-051400-
WINDHAM CT-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA-
EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-
EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
129 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN
CONNECTICUT...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN
MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND
AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WITH A LOW PROBABILITY OF
DAMAGING WINDS AND SMALL HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

DEPENDING UPON HOW MUCH RAINFALL IS RECEIVED TODAY...THERE COULD BE
AN ELEVATED RISK OF FIRE SPREAD WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY ACROSS MOST
OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-051400-
BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND-
BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND-
COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL
MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA
OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND
NANTUCKET-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO
20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND-
129 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS
AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

HERE IS A LOW RISK OF A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON
MAINLY FROM BOSTON HARBOR NORTHWARD. ONE OR TWO OF THE STRONGER
STORMS MAY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

WEST WINDS COULD GUST NEAR GALE FORCE FOR A TIME SATURDAY EVENING
BEHIND A STRONG COLD FRONT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER
CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 4, 1:46 PM EDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
146 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

CTZ002-041845-
HARTFORD-
146 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HARTFORD COUNTY...

AT 142 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR TORRINGTON...AND MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE...
  NEAR BURLINGTON BY 205 PM.
  NEAR CANTON BY 215 PM.
  NEAR AVON BY 225 PM.
  NEAR SIMSBURY BY 230 PM.
  NEAR BLOOMFIELD BY 235 PM.
  6 MILES SOUTH OF EAST GRANBY BY 240 PM.

GUSTY WINDS UP TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.

LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE
TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.
Special weather statement, May 4, 2:37 PM EDT, 44 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
237 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

CTZ002>004-041930-
HARTFORD-TOLLAND-WINDHAM-
237 PM EDT TUE MAY 4 2010

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT CENTRAL HARTFORD...CENTRAL TOLLAND
AND WESTERN WINDHAM COUNTIES...

AT 234 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR SOUTH WINDSOR...OR NEAR HARTFORD...AND
MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.

THIS STORM WILL BE...
  NEAR MANCHESTER BY 245 PM.
  NEAR VERNON BY 250 PM.
  NEAR COVENTRY BY 300 PM.
  NEAR MANSFIELD BY 305 PM.
  NEAR CHAPLIN BY 315 PM.
  NEAR ASHFORD BY 320 PM.

WINDS UP TO 45 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.

LIGHTNING IS ONE OF NATURES NUMBER ONE KILLERS. REMEMBER...IF YOU CAN
HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. MOVE
TO SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 4, 3:37 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire38 min
May 4, 4:05 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Worcester40 min
May 4, 4:29 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester61 min
May 4, 4:38 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXEssex, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and 1 more52 min
May 4, 4:42 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX48 min
May 4, 4:48 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXEssex, Middlesex, Worcester57 min
May 4, 4:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXBristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester65 min
May 4, 5:00 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX60 min
May 4, 5:57 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX48 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2010Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2010

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.