Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 20, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 26, 2026, 5:09 PM EDT for Hampden County, Hampshire County, Worcester County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 48 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
- Jun 26, 2026, 5:09 PM EDT (21:09 UTC)
- Expired
- Jun 26, 2026, 5:57 PM EDT
- In force
- 48 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.0 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA, Worcester County, MA
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 100 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 5:12 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | 1 Se Ludlow, MA | Tree down. |
| Jun 26, 5:20 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Palmer, MA | Tree and Wires down on Upper Palmer Road. Time estimated from radar. |
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 severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 3 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
Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 157 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
- 52 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -92 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 712 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 42 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 281 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 331 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.4
The text
As transmitted.
944
WUUS51 KBOX 262109
SVRBOX
MAC013-015-027-262215-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0020.260626T2109Z-260626T2215Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
509 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Worcester County in central Massachusetts...
Southeastern Hampshire County in western Massachusetts...
Southeastern Hampden County in western Massachusetts...
* Until 615 PM EDT.
* At 508 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Wilbraham, or
8 miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage
to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Springfield, Chicopee, Ludlow, Southbridge, East Longmeadow,
Belchertown, Wilbraham, Charlton, Palmer, Stafford, Dudley, Ware,
Sturbridge, Monson, Granby, Hampden, Warren, West Brookfield,
Brimfield, and Brookfield.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4233 7241 4231 7236 4230 7236 4231 7235
4216 7193 4203 7197 4203 7234 4212 7259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2108Z 291DEG 15KT 4216 7238
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank6 follow-up statements
699
WWUS51 KBOX 262112
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
512 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC013-015-027-262215-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Hampden MA-
512 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN
HAMPDEN COUNTIES...
At 512 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Palmer, or 9
miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Ludlow, Southbridge, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Charlton, Palmer,
Dudley, Ware, Sturbridge, Monson, Granby, Hampden, Warren, West
Brookfield, Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, East Brookfield, and
Wales.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4229 7243 4229 7234 4216 7193 4203 7197
4204 7234 4217 7251
TIME...MOT...LOC 2112Z 291DEG 15KT 4215 7236
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank501
WWUS51 KBOX 262121
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
521 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC013-015-027-262215-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Hampden MA-
521 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN
HAMPDEN COUNTIES...
At 521 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Monson, or 11
miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Ludlow, Southbridge, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Charlton, Palmer,
Dudley, Ware, Sturbridge, Monson, Hampden, Warren, West Brookfield,
Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, East Brookfield, and Wales.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4226 7240 4226 7233 4216 7193 4203 7197
4204 7234 4207 7238 4212 7243
TIME...MOT...LOC 2121Z 291DEG 15KT 4214 7231
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank433
WWUS51 KBOX 262129
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
529 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC013-015-027-262215-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Hampden MA-
529 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTHEASTERN
HAMPDEN COUNTIES...
At 528 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Brimfield, or
13 miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Southbridge, Wilbraham, Charlton, Palmer, Dudley, Ware, Sturbridge,
Monson, Hampden, Warren, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Brookfield,
Holland, East Brookfield, and Wales.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4221 7233 4224 7229 4216 7193 4203 7197
4204 7234 4207 7238 4211 7239
TIME...MOT...LOC 2128Z 291DEG 15KT 4213 7227
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank158
WWUS51 KBOX 262134
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
534 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC015-262142-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Hampshire MA-
534 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
IS CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
LAT...LON 4216 7231 4219 7226 4215 7194 4203 7197
4204 7234 4206 7236 4210 7237
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 291DEG 15KT 4212 7225
$$
MAC013-027-262215-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampden MA-
534 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER AND SOUTHEASTERN HAMPDEN COUNTIES...
At 532 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Brimfield, or
15 miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated. At 525 PM a tree and wires were reported
down in Monson.
IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to
trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Southbridge, Charlton, Palmer, Dudley, Sturbridge, Monson, Warren,
Brimfield, Brookfield, Holland, and Wales.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4216 7231 4219 7226 4215 7194 4203 7197
4204 7234 4206 7236 4210 7237
TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 291DEG 15KT 4212 7225
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank044
WWUS51 KBOX 262152
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
552 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC013-027-262215-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampden MA-
552 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 615 PM EDT
FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WORCESTER AND SOUTHEASTERN HAMPDEN COUNTIES...
At 552 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Holland, or 20
miles east of Springfield, moving east at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Southbridge, Charlton, Dudley, Sturbridge, Brimfield, Holland, and
Wales.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4208 7225 4213 7220 4209 7196 4203 7197
4204 7213 4204 7230 4205 7226
TIME...MOT...LOC 2152Z 291DEG 15KT 4209 7215
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Frank179
WWUS51 KBOX 262157
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
557 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
MAC013-027-262207-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SV.W.0020.000000T0000Z-260626T2215Z/
Worcester MA-Hampden MA-
557 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WORCESTER AND
SOUTHEASTERN HAMPDEN COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
LAT...LON 4208 7225 4213 7220 4209 7196 4203 7197
4204 7213 4204 7230 4205 7226
TIME...MOT...LOC 2151Z 291DEG 15KT 4208 7212
$$
FrankWhat 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 Jun 26, 3:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Widely scattered thunderstorms possible between 5 pm and midnight, with the greatest risk in northeast MA between 6 and 10 pm. Mainly dry and seasonable Sat outside a few brief spot showers.
- A few showers possible Sunday. Start of a warming trend.
- Warm and humid midweek, along with a risk of showers towards the second half of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 26, 3:26 PM EDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 326 PM EDT Fri Jun 26 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Widely scattered thunderstorms remain possible this evening, generally in the 5 pm to midnight time frame. Greatest risk for any thunderstorms will be across northeast MA in the 6 to 10 pm window. && .KEY MESSAGES... - Widely scattered thunderstorms possible between 5 pm and midnight, with the greatest risk in northeast MA between 6 and 10 pm. Mainly dry and seasonable Sat outside a few brief spot showers. - A few showers possible Sunday. Start of a warming trend. - Warm and humid midweek, along with a risk of showers towards the second half of next week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...Widely scattered thunderstorms possible between 5 pm and midnight, with the greatest risk in northeast MA between 6 and 10 pm. Mainly dry and seasonable Sat outside a few brief spot showers. The main forecast concern continues to revolve around the potential for widely scattered thunderstorms this evening. The earlier showers this morning have pretty much departed the region. Otherwise...we were beginning to some breaks in the clouds and some partial sunshine trying to overspread the region this afternoon. This should result in the development of some instability...surface capes should reach between 1000 and 1500 J/KG across most of the region. Jet dynamics are quite favorable and the SPC meso-analysis indicates effective bulk shear increasing to over 50 knots this evening. When these two ingredients overlap each other conditions are often favorable for thunderstorm development and severe weather. However...the big limiting factors in this case are the subsidence behind the round of showers that crossed the region earlier this morning and an abundance of mid level dry air. While mid level dry air can also be favorable for convection...too much of it can cut off developing updrafts. This is likely the main reason that a lot of the high resolution guidance is rather limited in its areal coverage of potential thunderstorm development. So in a nutshell, a few thunderstorms are possible in the 5 pm to midnight time frame this evening. Greatest risk though will be between 6 and 10 pm near the NH border and particularly in northeast MA. The reason for that is that there is bit better mid level moisture in that region. This is also indicated by much of our machine learning guidance etc. So to sum up...a few thunderstorms will be possible anywhere across southern New England but the greatest risk will be across northeast MA and near the NH border. Cloud to ground lightning is the main risk from any thunderstorms...but localized strong/damaging wind gusts are certainly possible. Confidence on thunderstorm development will increase across northeast MA if we see activity pushing into southeast NH...so this will be a nowcast type of forecast this evening. Otherwise...generally dry weather after midnight into Saturday outside a few brief spot showers with the greatest risk near the south coast. Partial sunshine on Sat should yield highs mainly in the upper 70s to the lower 80s...although might be a few degrees cooler along portions of the immediate eastern MA coast. KEY MESSAGE 2...A few showers possible Sunday. Start of a warming trend. Somewhat of an uncertain forecast for Sunday. Southern New England is sort of stuck in between a high pressure north of the Great Lakes and a nearly stationary front just south of New England. The mid level flow still anticipated to be more on the troughy side. Overall, looking like at least a risk for a few afternoon showers. Not impossible for a few thunderstorms, but the lift looks rather weak, with CAPE values between 200-500 J/kg. Confidence in the detail Sunday is lower than normal for this time range. Additional forecast changes for Sunday are possible with later issuances. KEY MESSAGE 3...Warm and humid midweek, along with a risk of showers towards the second half of next week. The main concern for next week remains the threat of hazardous heat. NBM 90th percentile high temperatures showed reasonable worst-case scenario high temperatures above 90F for Monday and Tuesday, with high temperatures over 100F Wednesday through Friday. The spread in the temperatures within the NBM percentiles is rather broad. Current forecast highs are more conservative and possibly underdone. Future upward adjustments are likely as we get closer in time. Increased humidity likely as well. Our region should be more along the periphery of the anticipated heat dome. A shortwave or two may "roll" along the eastern side of the upper level ridge, which may bring some unsettled weather for midweek. Location-specific and refined timing details are not yet known, though latest guidance is pointing towards sometime between Tuesday and Thursday. && .AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Forecaster Confidence Levels... Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Through This Afternoon...Moderate confidence. The risk for isolated thunderstorms, some of which may turn severe, returns in the afternoon primarily after 21z. PROB30s were included at most terminals to account for this risk. Highest probs E of ORH. Periods of MVFR visibilities and ceilings possible with any afternoon showers and storms. Uncertainty remains in exact location/overall coverage. Tonight...Moderate confidence. Showers and storms should clear the region by midnight. Patchy fog leading to areas of MVFR/IFR may develop overnight across much of SE MA, Cape Cod, and the Islands. Low stratus also a possibility, particularly towards the Cape and Islands. Winds shift more W and go light to calm overnight. Saturday...Moderate confidence. Mostly lower end VFR with areas of MVFR. Showers mostly scraping along the south coast are favored; lower confidence in those going much further north than that. These may also approach later in the day than expected. Light winds, with a sea breeze developing by 14z. KBOS Terminal...High confidence in TAF. KBDL Terminal...High confidence in TAF. Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/... Sunday: VFR. Slight chance SHRA. Sunday Night through Monday Night: VFR. Tuesday: VFR. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Tuesday Night: VFR. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Wednesday: VFR. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels... Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Tonight through Saturday night...High confidence on winds/seas. Moderate confidence on thunderstorm risk in our northeast MA waters this evening. A weak pressure gradient will keep winds/seas below small craft advisory thresholds through Saturday night. The main concern will be for scattered thunderstorms potentially impact our northeast MA adjacent coastal waters this evening. Dangerous cloud to ground lightning and locally strong wind gusts would be possible in this region. The greatest risk in the 6 to 10 pm time frame. Otherwise...areas of fog patches may impact the waters at times mainly during the overnight and early morning hours. Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/... Sunday through Tuesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Tuesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms. Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && DISCUSSION...Belk/Frank AVIATION...Belk/FT MARINE...Belk/Frank
The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 26, 5:44 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Essex | 48 min |
| Jun 26, 5:56 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 64 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Every severe thunderstorm 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.