Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Watches in 2012

Flash Flood Watch 2, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 28, 20125 counties in Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut; Cheshire County, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood watch at Jul 28, 2012, 3:54 AM EDT for 5 counties in Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut; Cheshire County, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. It took effect at Jul 28, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT. It was in force for 16 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 2012, 3:54 AM EDT (07:54 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 28, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
Expired
Jul 29, 2012, 4:01 AM EDT
In force
16 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Flood severity
None

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA, Middlesex County, MA, Worcester County, MA, Cheshire County, NH, Hillsborough County, NH

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:56 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.

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 00:00Z, 7.9 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 2012-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 29 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albany, NY at 00:00Z on 2012-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 14 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
29 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-60 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
999 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
14 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
76 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.

710 
WGUS61 KBOX 280754
FFABOX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
354 AM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...

CTZ002-MAZ002-003-008>011-NHZ011-281600-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.A.0002.120728T1600Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARTFORD CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-CHESHIRE NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...CHARLEMONT...
GREENFIELD...ORANGE...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...JAFFREY...KEENE
354 AM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE
TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT... 
  WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...INCLUDING 
  THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...HARTFORD CT. 
  IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN FRANKLIN MA...EASTERN 
  HAMPDEN MA...EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA...WESTERN FRANKLIN MA... 
  WESTERN HAMPDEN MA AND WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA. IN SOUTHERN NEW 
  HAMPSHIRE...CHESHIRE NH. 

* FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP BY
  MID AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. THE SHOWERS AND
  THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE VERY SLOW MOVING AND CAPABLE OF DROPPING 2
  TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THIS MAY
  LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. WHILE THERE IS POTENTIAL
  ACROSS THE ENTIRE WATCH AREA...IT APPEARS THAT THE HIGHEST RISK
  IS ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES.

* THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AS TO EXACTLY HOW EVERYTHING WILL UNFOLD
  THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR
  LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING SO STAY TUNED FOR LATER FORECASTS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

FRANK
4 follow-up statements
061 
WGUS61 KBOX 281428
FFABOX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1028 AM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT...

CTZ002-MAZ002-003-008>011-NHZ011-282230-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.A.0002.120728T1600Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARTFORD CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-CHESHIRE NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...CHARLEMONT...
GREENFIELD...ORANGE...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...JAFFREY...KEENE
1028 AM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND 
  SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN 
  NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...HARTFORD CT. IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
   EASTERN FRANKLIN MA...EASTERN HAMPDEN MA...EASTERN HAMPSHIRE 
  MA...WESTERN FRANKLIN MA...WESTERN HAMPDEN MA AND WESTERN 
  HAMPSHIRE MA. IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...CHESHIRE NH. 

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN
  NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND MAY CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. THE
  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE VERY SLOW MOVING AND CAPABLE
  OF DROPPING 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF
  TIME. THIS MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. 

* THE HIGHEST RISK IS ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE
  BERKSHIRES...WITH A GENERAL RISK IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

WTB
066 
WGUS61 KBOX 281752
FFABOX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
152 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT...

CTZ003-MAZ004-026-NHZ015-290200-
/O.EXA.KBOX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
TOLLAND CT-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...UNION...VERNON...BARRE...FITCHBURG...
AYER...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE
152 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS EXPANDED THE

* FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE PORTIONS OF NORTHERN 
  CONNECTICUT...MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE... 
  INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT... 
  TOLLAND CT. IN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA AND 
  NORTHERN WORCESTER MA. IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...WESTERN AND 
  CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH. 

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN
  NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND MAY CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. THE
  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE VERY SLOW MOVING AND CAPABLE
  OF DROPPING 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF
  TIME. THIS MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

CTZ002-MAZ002-003-008>011-NHZ011-290200-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
HARTFORD CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-CHESHIRE NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...CHARLEMONT...
GREENFIELD...ORANGE...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...JAFFREY...KEENE
152 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND 
  SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN 
  NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...HARTFORD CT. IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
   EASTERN FRANKLIN MA...EASTERN HAMPDEN MA...EASTERN HAMPSHIRE 
  MA...WESTERN FRANKLIN MA...WESTERN HAMPDEN MA AND WESTERN 
  HAMPSHIRE MA. IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...CHESHIRE NH. 

* THROUGH LATE TONIGHT

* SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHERN 
  NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND MAY CONTINUE INTO TONIGHT. THE 
  SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE VERY SLOW MOVING AND CAPABLE 
  OF DROPPING 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF 
  TIME. THIS MAY LEAD TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. 

* THE HIGHEST RISK IS ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES AND IN
  THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

WTB
861 
WGUS61 KBOX 290152
FFABOX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
952 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO
TONIGHT...

CTZ002-003-MAZ002>004-008>011-026-NHZ011-015-290800-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION...
VERNON...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...ORANGE...BARRE...FITCHBURG...
CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...
AYER...JAFFREY...KEENE...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE
952 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN 
  NEW HAMPSHIRE...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS...IN NORTHERN 
  CONNECTICUT...HARTFORD CT AND TOLLAND CT. IN MASSACHUSETTS... 
  EASTERN FRANKLIN MA...EASTERN HAMPDEN MA...EASTERN HAMPSHIRE 
  MA...NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA...NORTHERN WORCESTER MA...WESTERN 
  FRANKLIN MA...WESTERN HAMPDEN MA AND WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA. IN 
  SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...CHESHIRE NH AND WESTERN AND CENTRAL 
  HILLSBOROUGH NH. 

* UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY

* SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE REDEVELOPING ACROSS
  CENTRAL UPSTATE NEW YORK INTO EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND MAY
  CONTINUE TO DO SO EASTWARD LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY
  MORNING. THE POTENTIAL SLOW MOVING STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF
  PRODUCING RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND 2 INCHES IN A VERY SHORT
  PERIOD OF TIME UPON ALREADY VERY SATURATED GROUND. THIS MAY LEAD
  TO LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING.

* THE HIGHEST RISK IS ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES 
  AND IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD
TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION
SHOULD FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS BE ISSUED.

&&

$$

SIPPRELL
625 
WGUS61 KBOX 290801
FFABOX

FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
401 AM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

CTZ002-003-MAZ002>004-008>011-026-NHZ011-015-290915-
/O.CAN.KBOX.FF.A.0002.000000T0000Z-120729T0800Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
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-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION...
VERNON...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...ORANGE...BARRE...FITCHBURG...
CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...
AYER...JAFFREY...KEENE...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE
401 AM EDT SUN JUL 29 2012

...FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS CANCELLED...

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN CANCELLED. ANY
STORMS THAT OCCUR TODAY SHOULD BE ISOLATED.

$$

RLG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 28, 11:50 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXHampden55 min
Jul 28, 12:50 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXWorcester25 min
Jul 28, 12:59 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester6 hr
Jul 28, 1:35 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire3 hr
Jul 28, 2:28 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXHampden, Hampshire, Worcester3 hr
Jul 28, 3:18 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Worcester3 hr
Jul 28, 3:33 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire, Worcester3 hr
Jul 28, 3:41 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXWorcester49 min
Jul 28, 4:01 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXHampden, Worcester2 hr
Jul 28, 4:13 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXNorfolk62 min
Jul 28, 4:47 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and 1 more3 hr
Jul 28, 6:42 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk3 hr
Jul 28, 7:25 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk3 hr
Jul 28, 7:31 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXBristol59 min
Jul 28, 12:46 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOX59 min
Jul 28, 1:48 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXCapitol Planning Region117 min
Jul 28, 2:11 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOX64 min
Jul 28, 2:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOX51 min
Jul 28, 3:00 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXCapitol Planning Region3 hr
Jul 28, 3:24 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXCapitol Planning Region, Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region3 hr
Jul 28, 3:44 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXCapitol Planning Region2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Watches in Massachusetts, 2012Flash Flood Watches in New Hampshire, 2012Flash Flood Watches in Connecticut, 2012Every flash flood watch in 2012

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.