Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 22, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

June 30, 20264 counties in Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 30, 2026, 2:54 PM EDT for 4 counties in Massachusetts. It was in force for 66 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 30, 2026, 2:54 PM EDT (18:54 UTC)
Expired
Jun 30, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT
In force
66 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

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

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 104 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:55 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
Jun 30, 2:55 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGAmherst, MAtree down on North East St. Time estimated from radar.
Jun 30, 3:00 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGBelchertown, MAseveral trees down on Blue Meadow 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 1 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, 6.9 hours before the alert went out and 163 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-06-30Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 20 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-06-30The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 49 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
20 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-109 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1451 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
49 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
39 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

485 
WUUS51 KBOX 301854
SVRBOX
MAC011-013-015-027-302000-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0022.260630T1854Z-260630T2000Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
254 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 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 Franklin County in western Massachusetts...
  East central Hampden County in western Massachusetts...

* Until 400 PM EDT.

* At 253 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located over Belchertown, 
  or 8 miles southeast of Amherst, moving east at 10 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...
  Amherst, Ludlow, Belchertown, Palmer, Ware, Sturbridge, Granby,
  Barre, Warren, North Brookfield, West Brookfield, Brimfield,
  Brookfield, Hardwick, Oakham, Shutesbury, Pelham, Petersham, New
  Braintree, and New Salem.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4219 7247 4242 7251 4241 7208 4214 7209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1853Z 270DEG 7KT 4228 7238 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
3 follow-up statements
937 
WWUS51 KBOX 301915
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
315 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

MAC011-013-015-027-302000-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260630T2000Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Franklin MA-Hampden MA-
315 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE...SOUTHEASTERN
FRANKLIN AND EAST CENTRAL HAMPDEN COUNTIES...

At 315 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ware, or 11
miles southeast of Amherst, moving east at 10 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...
Belchertown, Palmer, Ware, Sturbridge, Barre, Warren, North
Brookfield, West Brookfield, Brookfield, Hardwick, Oakham,
Shutesbury, Pelham, Petersham, New Braintree, and New Salem.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4223 7240 4242 7247 4241 7208 4214 7209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1915Z 270DEG 7KT 4228 7232 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
078 
WWUS51 KBOX 301935
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
335 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

MAC011-013-015-027-302000-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260630T2000Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Franklin MA-Hampden MA-
335 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 400 PM EDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE...SOUTHEASTERN
FRANKLIN AND EAST CENTRAL HAMPDEN COUNTIES...

At 335 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Ware, or 13
miles southeast of Amherst, moving east at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Law enforcement. At 315pm Law Enforcement reported trees 
         and wires down in Belchertown.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Palmer, Ware, Sturbridge, Barre, Warren, North Brookfield, West
Brookfield, Brimfield, Brookfield, Hardwick, Oakham, Petersham, New
Braintree, and New Salem.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4221 7234 4241 7232 4241 7208 4214 7209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1935Z 270DEG 7KT 4228 7227 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$
FT
820 
WWUS51 KBOX 301950
SVSBOX

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
350 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

MAC011-013-015-027-302000-
/O.EXP.KBOX.SV.W.0022.000000T0000Z-260630T2000Z/
Worcester MA-Hampshire MA-Franklin MA-Hampden MA-
350 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN WORCESTER...
SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE...SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN AND EAST CENTRAL
HAMPDEN COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 400 PM EDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.  However gusty
winds and heavy rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

LAT...LON 4221 7234 4241 7232 4241 7208 4214 7209
TIME...MOT...LOC 1950Z 270DEG 7KT 4228 7224 

$$

FT

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 Jun 30, 2:38 PM EDT, 16 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed through Sat with afternoon heat indices in the 98 to 112 degree range with little relief at night. Peak of the heat Thu into Fri.
  • A cluster of scattered showers and a few t-storms may work into parts of our region very late today and tonight. Activity likely weakening with main severe weather risk to our northwest, but can not rule out a low risk in western MA/CT.
  • W/NW flow aloft may bring a low convective/severe weather risk given high Cape/remnant EML Wed-Fri...but limited forcing and cap may keep us mainly dry. Greatest risk for thunderstorms/severe weather potential might wait until Sat July 4th with the actual cold front.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 2:38 PM EDT, 16 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
238 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Extreme Heat Watch has been upgraded to an Excessive Heat
Warning for all of southern New England except the south coast and
Berkshires.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed through Sat with
  afternoon heat indices in the 98 to 112 degree range with
  little relief at night. Peak of the heat Thu into Fri.

- A cluster of scattered showers and a few t-storms may work
  into parts of our region very late today and tonight. Activity
  likely weakening with main severe weather risk to our northwest,
  but can not rule out a low risk in western MA/CT.

- W/NW flow aloft may bring a low convective/severe weather risk
  given high Cape/remnant EML Wed-Fri...but limited forcing  and cap
  may keep us mainly dry. Greatest risk for thunderstorms/severe
  weather potential might wait until Sat July 4th with the actual
  cold front.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed through
Sat with  afternoon heat indices in the 98 to 112 degree range with
little relief at night. Peak of the heat Thu into Fri.

High confidence forecast in dangerous prolonged heat and humidity
Wed through Sat. This continues to be supported by the NAEFS
situational awareness table which indicates many parameters outside
the models climatology. The EFI/shift of tails also indicates both
min/max temperatures on the edge or outside of the models
climatology. 925T peak on Thu and Fri in the +28C to +30C degree
range and that is when we expect the worst of the extreme heat and
humidity.

Today will be very warm and with 850T climbing to +16C/+17C we
should see highs top out in the upper 80s to the lower 90s away from
the south coast. The dangerous heat and humidity starts on Wed when
850T climb to +20C/+21C and expect highs to reach the middle 90s
away from the south coast and possibly upper 90s in a few spots.
This coupled with dewpoints rising to 70+ will result in dangerous
heat and humidity. Heat indices will rise to between 98 and 108
degrees away from the south coast. The worst of the heat and
humidity will likely be in the CT River Valley and Merrimack
Valleys. The extreme heat and humidity peak on Thu and Fri when 850T
reach between +22C and +24C. High temperatures will likely reach
between 97 and 103 away from the south coast and any very localized
sea breezes. Heat indices will reach dangerous levels in the 102 to
113 degree range. It will remain hot and humid on Sat July 4th as
well. While it may be a few degrees lower than Thu/Fri...dangerous
heat and humidity may continue and will be determined by the timing
of a cold front.

Not only will this be a dangerous prolonged heatwave...there will be
little relief at night. Low temperatures will only drop into the
middle 70s in most locations and 75 to 80 degrees in the urban
centers. In fact...Boston may not drop below 80 degrees during the
peak of the heat and humidity!

Given the above...we opted to upgrade most of our region to an
Extreme Heat Warning Wed through Sat. While some areas may
technically not hit warning criteria until Thu and may not on Sat
depending on the timing of the cold front...the overall message
remains the same. We did hold the excessive heat watch along the
Berks and south coast of MA/RI. However...this area will still
experience dangerous heat and humidity but wanted to go with the
warning where our confidence was highest at this point.

KEY MESSAGE 2...A cluster of scattered showers and a few t-storms
may work into parts of our region very late today and tonight.
Activity likely weakening with main severe weather risk to our
northwest, but can not rule out a low risk in western MA/CT.

The other concern for late today and especially tonight is a
shortwave that will be dropping southeast in northwest flow aloft
around the developing ring of fire. Effective shear of 30-40 knots
is favorable for this activity to work into our region...but
instability will be rather marginal. So expect a cluster of
weakening scattered showers and perhaps a few thunderstorms to
impact portions of our region. The greatest risk is across western
MA/CT. The overall severe weather threat is low given the limited
instability in our region...but given northwest flow aloft and
lingering momentum can not rule out a low probability for some
severe weather in western MA/CT. However...currently thinking
greatest risk is northwest of our region.

KEY MESSAGE 3...W/NW flow aloft may bring a low convective/severe
weather risk given high Cape/remnant EML Wed-Fri...but limited
forcing and cap may keep us mainly dry. Greatest risk for
thunderstorms/severe weather potential might wait until Sat July 4th
with the actual cold front.

Anomalous heat and humidity will result in rather high instability
across our region Wed through Fri. In addition...a remnant EML in
northwest flow aloft is present. If somehow we can get a few
thunderstorms going they could quickly become severe even during the
overnight/morning hours. However...lack of overall synoptic forcing
and a mid level cap may keep this risk low but it will still need to
watched. Greatest risk for convection and potentially some severe
weather may wait until Sat July 4th when the cold front/strong
forcing arrives.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

12z TAF Update...

Today and tonight...High confidence.

Mainly VFR after areas of low clouds/ground fog mainly across
RI/SE MA by mid morning. Otherwise...will need to watch for a
cluster of weakening scattered showers and perhaps a few
t-storms toward evening and into tonight. Greatest risk for this
activity will be across western MA/CT. S-SW winds 6-13 knots
this afternoon into tonight...but 10-20 knots later tonight
across the Cape/Islands.

Wednesday...High confidence.

Mainly VFR but can not rule out widely scattered
showers/t-storms later Wed into wed night. SW winds 10 to 15
knots with 20 to 25 knot gusts in the afternoon. Strongest of
those gusts toward the Cape/Islands.

KBOS Terminal...High Confidence in TAF. Sea breeze develops by
mid to late morning but should be knocked out and turn S-SW by
mid to late afternoon.

KBDL Terminal...High Confidence in TAF. Showers approach the
termianl 21-23z, with some rumbles of thunder possible around
00z tonight.

Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/...

Wednesday Night: VFR. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA, isolated
TSRA.

Thursday through Friday Night: VFR. Breezy.

Independence Day: VFR. Chance SHRA, chance TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

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

Today through Wednesday...High confidence.

Bermuda high pressure will result in a persistent SW flow across our
waters. Despite the inversion enough mixing especially by
Wednesday...particularly near shore should yield SW wind gusts up to
25 knots. In addition....long southwest fetch should build seas to 3-
6 feet across our southern waters. Small craft headlines have been
posted for our southern waters and sounds towards daybreak and
through Wednesday.

Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/...

Wednesday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with
gusts up to 25 kt. Areas of rough seas. Slight chance of rain
showers, isolated thunderstorms.

Thursday through Thursday Night: Low risk for Small Craft
Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft.

Friday: Winds less than 25 kt.

Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain
showers.

Independence Day: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain
showers, slight chance of thunderstorms.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Record High Temperatures:

July 1:
KBOS: 98/1872
KBDL: 101/1964
KPVD: 97/1964
KORH: 94/1913

July 2:
KBOS: 98/1963
KBDL: 99/1966
KPVD: 98/1941
KORH: 97/1901

July 3:
KBOS: 102/1911
KBDL: 102/1966
KPVD: 98/2002
KORH: 96/1911

July 4:
KBOS: 104/1911
KBDL: 99/1911
KPVD: 99/1919
KORH: 102/1911

Record High Minimum Temperatures:

July 1:
KBOS: 73/1958
KBDL: 73/1968
KPVD: 71/1968
KORH: 72/2018

July 2:
KBOS: 76/2002
KBDL: 73/2018
KPVD: 75/1941
KORH: 73/1963

July 3:
KBOS: 80/2002
KBDL: 73/2018
KPVD: 78/2002
KORH: 72/2002

July 4:
KBOS: 77/2002
KBDL: 74/2018
KPVD: 77/2002
KORH: 73/2018.CLIMATE...

July 5:
KBOS: 81/1999
KBDL: 77/1999
KPVD: 78/1999
KORH: 73/1999

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Air Quality Alert until 11 PM EDT this evening for CTZ002.
     Air Quality Alert from 11 AM to 11 PM EDT Wednesday for
     CTZ002>004.
     Extreme Heat Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Saturday
     for CTZ002>004.
MA...Extreme Heat Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Saturday
     for MAZ002>021-026.
     Heat Advisory from 10 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Saturday for
     MAZ022-023.
RI...Extreme Heat Warning from 10 AM Wednesday to 8 PM EDT Saturday
     for RIZ001>007.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 8 AM to 11 PM EDT Wednesday for
     ANZ231>237.
     Small Craft Advisory from 5 AM Wednesday to 1 AM EDT Friday
     for ANZ254>256.

&&

DISCUSSION...Belk
AVIATION...Belk
MARINE...Belk
CLIMATE...FT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 30, 1:38 AM EDTExtreme Heat WarningBOXBristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and 4 more4 days
Jun 30, 2:11 AM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBOX71 hr
Jun 30, 1:25 PM EDTHeat AdvisoryBOXBarnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden and 6 more4 days
Jun 30, 5:55 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire65 min
Jun 30, 6:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire29 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.