Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 29, 2026Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood warning at Jul 29, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT for Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 95 min. 2 reports 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
Jul 29, 2026, 2:58 PM EDT (18:58 UTC)
Expired
Jul 29, 2026, 4:33 PM EDT
In force
95 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 120 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:02 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
Jul 29, 3:09 PM EDTFLASH FLOODAgawam, MASuffield Street at Agawam Street flooded.
Jul 29, 3:20 PM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Nw Agawam, MAWhite Brook out of its banks and flooding North Street. Relayed by Amateur Radio.

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 2 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 11 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 nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 7.0 hours before the alert went out and 107 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 2026-07-29Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 80 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 12:00Z on 2026-07-29The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -2 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
80 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-35 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
761 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-2 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-21 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

651 
WGUS51 KBOX 291858
FFWBOX
MAC011-013-015-292200-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.W.0004.260729T1858Z-260729T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
258 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

The National Weather Service in Norton has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southern Franklin County in western Massachusetts...
  Central Hampden County in western Massachusetts...
  Southwestern Hampshire County in western Massachusetts...

* Until 600 PM EDT.

* At 258 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the 
  warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. 
  Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
  warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by heavy rain.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban
           areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as
           other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Springfield, Chicopee, Enfield, Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst, 
  Northampton, Agawam, West Springfield, Ludlow, South Hadley, 
  Easthampton, Longmeadow, Suffield, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, 
  Somers, Southwick, Granby and Southampton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4245 7266 4231 7253 4203 7242 4203 7261
      4204 7275 4203 7276 4221 7283 4244 7296

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

EM
1 follow-up statement
175 
WGUS71 KBOX 292033
FFSBOX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
433 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

MAC011-013-015-292043-
/O.CAN.KBOX.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260729T2200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Franklin MA-Hampden MA-Hampshire MA-
433 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHERN FRANKLIN, CENTRAL 
HAMPDEN AND SOUTHWESTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a 
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

A Flood Watch remains in effect until 800 PM EDT for portions of 
northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts.

&&

LAT...LON 4245 7266 4231 7253 4203 7242 4203 7261
      4204 7275 4203 7276 4221 7283 4244 7296

$$

Dooley

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Jul 29, 2:52 PM EDT, 6 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Heavy rain at times continues into this evening, leading to the potential street and flash flooding, especially across western New England. * Light showers linger into Friday, with improving conditions for the upcoming weekend. * Unsettled weather returns late Sunday night into Monday, followed by drier conditions Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 29, 2:52 PM EDT, 6 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
252 PM EDT Wed Jul 29 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No significant changes.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Heavy rain at times continues into this evening, leading to
  the potential street and flash flooding, especially across
  western New England.

* Light showers linger into Friday, with improving conditions for
  the upcoming weekend.

* Unsettled weather returns late Sunday night into Monday,
  followed by drier conditions Tuesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...

KEY MESSAGE 1...Periods of heavy rainfall continue into Wednesday
evening, leading to potential street and flash flooding, especially
across western portions of MA.

High amplitude vertically stacked low over southeast NYS this
afternoon, with a deep Atlantic moisture plume pivoting cyclonically
across New England. A very atypical system for late July, with cool
season jet dynamics (negative tilt mid/upper trough) via strong
cyclonically curved flow aloft, combined with 35-45kt of moist low
level SE jet providing upslope enhancement, acting on a warm season
moisture plume up to 150% of normal. This will continue to support
the ongoing forecast of potential flash flooding, with the greatest
threat across the eastern slopes of the Berkshires.

As the low level jet pivots and lifts north into NH/VT, the heaviest
rainfall shifts north into NH/ME tonight. This will result in lower
rainfall rates and more of a stratiform rain across MA/RI/CT
tonight.

Thursday the vertically stacked low aloft drifts over SNE, with
surface low over the Gulf of Maine. Moist cyclonic flow aloft
continues, yielding overcast conditions along with scattered
showers. -10C to -12C at 500 mb will provide some elevated
instability and some of the CAMS indicate isolated to scattered
heavy showers with embedded thunder across CT/RI and southeast MA.
Moisture plume also across this area with PWATs up to 1.5 inches.
Thus, a low risk for isolated flash flooding across this region Thu
PM. As for temperatures, persistent easterly flow and thick
cloudcover/rainfall will depress high temperatures into the low to
mid 70s Thursday.

Drying trend Thu night as vertically stacked low lifts northeast
into Maine and the Maritimes. However, low clouds, drizzle and fog
may linger.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Light showers linger into Friday, with improving
conditions for the upcoming weekend.

The aforementioned vertically stacked low pressure system begins to
lift northeast away from southern New England Friday morning. Friday
serves as a transition day as the departing low gives way to subtle
mid-level ridging and weak surface high pressure heading into the
weekend. While periods of light rain and drizzle remain possible
Friday, the overall trend is toward improving conditions.

Even as the primary low departs, its trailing mid-level trough will
linger over the region, allowing weak shortwave energy to rotate
through southern New England. With PWATs remaining around 1.3 inches
and the lowest several thousand feet of the atmosphere remaining
saturated, scattered light showers or areas of drizzle remain
possible. Winds gradually shift from onshore to northerly and
eventually north-northwesterly by late Friday. Combined with
abundant cloud cover, highs will remain below normal, generally in
the middle 70s to around 80.

The weekend will not be as sunny as last weekend, but it should be
considerably drier. A mix of clouds and sunshine is expected both
Saturday and Sunday. PWATs remain near climatological normals
Saturday before increasing to around 1.2 to 1.5 standard deviations
above normal by Sunday afternoon ahead of the next system. While
most locations should remain dry, a passing shortwave could produce
an isolated afternoon shower or even a rumble of thunder. Overall,
subtle mid-level ridging and developing south to southwest return
flow will support a warming trend, with highs returning to
seasonable levels in the lower to middle 80s both Saturday and
Sunday.

KEY MESSAGE 3...Unsettled weather returns late Sunday night into
Monday, followed by drier conditions Tuesday.

Attention then turns to the next system, as a mid-level trough and
associated cold front approach late Sunday night into Monday. While
uncertainty remains regarding the exact timing and evolution of the
system, this currently appears to be the next opportunity for
widespread rainfall.

Ensemble guidance indicates PWATs will be slightly above normal,
with most solutions favoring a progressive system that should limit
the flash flood threat. Current ensemble probabilities for 24-hour
rainfall amounts exceeding one-half inch range from 20 to 40
percent. High pressure is then expected to build into the region
Tuesday, bringing a return to drier conditions, although confidence
in the timing of the frontal passage remains lower given the 5 to 6
day forecast horizon.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

18z TAF update...

This afternoon and Tonight...High confidence on trends.

Bands of moderate to heavy rain will continue to impact terminals
this afternoon. However, with dry slot moving across CT and
eventually into RI and eastern MA, heavy rain bands will transition
to more of stratiform light rain/drizzle later this afternoon and
into tonight. Nonetheless, any remaining VFR vsbys will transition
to MVFR and cigs will transition to IFR/LIFR.

East surface winds will remain gusty along the coastal terminals, up
to 25 kt at times through about 03z, then becoming northeast and
slackening a bit thereafter. Marginal LLWS will continue until about
00z-03z, as ESE low level jet traverses the region. Not expecting
any TSRA, as this is more of a cool-season Nor'easter than a summer-
time rain event.

Thursday...Moderate confidence.

Vertically stacked low is very slow to move, therefore LIFR/IFR cigs
with MVFR vsbys in areas of light rain/drizzle and fog, only slowly
improve to IFR/MVFR cigs and MVFR/VFR vsbys. Low risk for a few
heavy showers and isolated TSRA across RI and southeast MA terminals
Thu PM. Light surface winds with broad area of low pressure over the
region.

Thursday Night...Moderate confidence.

Widespread IFR and lower end MVFR in lingering spotty light
showers/drizzle and areas of fog. N winds remaining generally below
10 kt.

KBOS Terminal...High confidence on trends. Marginal LLWS until about
03z, with east to southeast winds up to 45 kt at 2kft. East surface
winds gusting up to 25 kt at times, then slackening a bit after 03z
as winds turn to the NE. MVFR/IFR cigs at 18z in SHRA will continue
to trend toward IFR/LIFR this evening and overnight, along with VFR
vsby trending to MVFR/IFR.

KBDL Terminal...High confidence in trends. Steady rains this Wed AM
have transitioned to more showery this afternoon, providing more
fluctuations in cigs and vsbys. However, overall trends will be
down to MVFR vsbys and IFR cigs.

Outlook /Thursday Night through Monday/...

Friday: VFR. Slight chance SHRA.

Friday Night through Saturday Night: VFR.

Sunday: VFR. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Sunday Night through Monday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR
possible. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Surface low over western Long Island Wed afternoon, will continue to
yield ESE winds 20 to 30 kt. As this low slowly moves east, the
strongest winds will lift north into NH/ME tonight. However, seas
will remain rough. Heavy showers at times will limit vsby at times.
During Thu and Thu night, the low over the Gulf of ME will slowly
continue to move NE. Light N-NE winds with seas slowly subsiding.
Vsby 1-3NM at times in areas of fog and showers.

Outlook /Thursday Night through Monday/...

Friday through Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to
5 ft.

Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.

Saturday Night through Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt.

Sunday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers.

Monday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of rough seas. Chance of
rain showers.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for CTZ002>004.
MA...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for MAZ002>004-008>012.
RI...Flood Watch until 8 PM EDT this evening for RIZ001-002.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for
     ANZ230>237-251.
     Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT Thursday for ANZ250.
     Small Craft Advisory until 2 PM EDT Thursday for ANZ254>256.

&&

DISCUSSION...Dooley/Nocera
AVIATION...Dooley/Nocera
MARINE...Dooley/Nocera

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 29, 4:56 PM EDTAreal Flood WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester3 hr
Jul 29, 5:50 PM EDTFlash Flood WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester93 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

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.