Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 23, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

June 30, 2026Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 30, 2026, 5:55 PM EDT for Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts; Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut. It was in force for 65 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, 5:55 PM EDT (21:55 UTC)
Expired
Jun 30, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force
65 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
0.75 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Capitol Planning Region, CT, Franklin County, MA, Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 101 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:56 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 30, 6:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 Sw Montgomery, MAIn Montgomery a tree was down near the Westfield Reservoir. Reported was transmitted via amateur radio.
Jun 30, 6:50 PM EDTTSTM WND DMG1 W Southwick, MAIn Southwick, a tree was downed onto Eden Hill Road. Report relayed via 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 severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 45 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, 9.9 hours before the alert went out and 147 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.

148 
WUUS51 KBOX 302155
SVRBOX
CTC003-MAC011-013-015-302300-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0023.260630T2155Z-260630T2300Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
555 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Hartford County in northern Connecticut...
  Hampshire County in western Massachusetts...
  West central Franklin County in western Massachusetts...
  Hampden County in western Massachusetts...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 555 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
  extending from near Savoy to near Becket to near Livingston, moving
  southeast at 30 mph.

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

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

* Locations impacted include...
  Springfield, Chicopee, Enfield, Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst,
  Northampton, Agawam, West Springfield, Deerfield, Simsbury, Ludlow,
  South Hadley, Easthampton, Longmeadow, Suffield, Belchertown,
  Windsor Locks, Canton, and Southwick.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4212 7306 4215 7307 4215 7303 4227 7300
      4231 7300 4231 7303 4233 7306 4238 7307
      4239 7301 4264 7295 4234 7238 4195 7263
      4185 7295 4197 7289 4197 7303 4204 7301
      4204 7306 4211 7307
TIME...MOT...LOC 2155Z 312DEG 26KT 4256 7298 4230 7315 4211 7377 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
3 follow-up statements
609 
WWUS51 KBOX 302235
SVSBOX

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

CTC003-MAC011-013-015-302300-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260630T2300Z/
Hartford CT-Hampshire MA-Franklin MA-Hampden MA-
635 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN HARTFORD...SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE...CENTRAL FRANKLIN AND
HAMPDEN COUNTIES...

At 635 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from near Williamsburg to Russell to Millerton, moving east
at 30 mph.

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

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Springfield, Chicopee, Enfield, Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst,
Northampton, Agawam, West Springfield, Simsbury, Ludlow, South
Hadley, Easthampton, Longmeadow, Suffield, Belchertown, Windsor
Locks, Canton, Southwick, and Granby.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4212 7306 4215 7307 4215 7303 4227 7300
      4231 7292 4233 7291 4236 7287 4239 7282
      4250 7272 4234 7238 4195 7263 4185 7295
      4197 7289 4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7306
      4211 7307
TIME...MOT...LOC 2235Z 270DEG 26KT 4240 7268 4214 7285 4195 7347 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$
FT
953 
WWUS51 KBOX 302253
SVSBOX

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

MAC011-302302-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260630T2300Z/
Franklin MA-
653 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL FRANKLIN COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The storms which prompted the warning have  moved out of the warned 
area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

LAT...LON 4212 7294 4215 7291 4217 7287 4228 7276
      4232 7271 4236 7265 4236 7263 4238 7263
      4242 7258 4232 7239 4195 7263 4185 7295
      4197 7289 4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7303
      4210 7297
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 270DEG 26KT 4234 7259 4208 7276 4189 7338 

$$

CTC003-MAC013-015-302300-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260630T2300Z/
Hartford CT-Hampshire MA-Hampden MA-
653 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN HARTFORD...SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE AND WESTERN
HAMPDEN COUNTIES...

At 652 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from Hadley to near Southwick to near Falls Village, moving
east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.

Locations impacted include...
Springfield, Chicopee, Enfield, Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst,
Northampton, Agawam, West Springfield, Simsbury, Ludlow, South
Hadley, Easthampton, Longmeadow, Suffield, Belchertown, Windsor
Locks, Granby, Canton, and Southwick.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4212 7294 4215 7291 4217 7287 4228 7276
      4232 7271 4236 7265 4236 7263 4238 7263
      4242 7258 4232 7239 4195 7263 4185 7295
      4197 7289 4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7303
      4210 7297
TIME...MOT...LOC 2252Z 270DEG 26KT 4234 7259 4208 7276 4189 7338 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

FT
524 
WWUS51 KBOX 302257
SVSBOX

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

CTC003-MAC013-015-302306-
/O.EXP.KBOX.SV.W.0023.000000T0000Z-260630T2300Z/
Hartford CT-Hampshire MA-Hampden MA-
657 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN HARTFORD...
SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE AND WESTERN HAMPDEN COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT
700 PM EDT...

The storms which prompted the warning have moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A new Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for portions of 
southern Massachusetts until 8pm. 
LAT...LON 4212 7294 4215 7291 4217 7287 4228 7276
      4232 7271 4236 7265 4236 7263 4238 7263
      4242 7258 4232 7239 4195 7263 4185 7295
      4197 7289 4197 7303 4204 7301 4204 7303
      4210 7297
TIME...MOT...LOC 2256Z 312DEG 26KT 4233 7258 4207 7275 4188 7337 

$$

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, 3:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed through Sat with max 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 showers and a few thunderstorms may impact parts of our region very late today into tonight. Activity likely weakening with main severe weather risk to our northwest, but cannot rule out a low risk across western MA/CT.
  • W/NW flow aloft may bring a low convective/severe weather risk Wed-Fri. However, limited forcing and cap may keep us mainly dry. Greatest risk for thunderstorms/severe weather potential might wait until Independence Day with the actual cold front.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 30, 3:38 PM EDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
338 PM EDT Tue Jun 30 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
The Extreme Heat Watch has been upgraded to an Excessive Heat
Warning for the east slopes of the Berkshires and the South
Coast. A Heat Advisory has been posted for Cape Cod and
Martha's Vineyard.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed through Sat with max
  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 showers and a few thunderstorms may impact parts
  of our region very late today into tonight. Activity likely
  weakening with main severe weather risk to our northwest, but
  cannot rule out a low risk across western MA/CT.

- W/NW flow aloft may bring a low convective/severe weather risk
  Wed-Fri. However, limited forcing and cap may keep us mainly
  dry. Greatest risk for thunderstorms/severe weather potential
  might wait until Independence Day with the actual cold front.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Dangerous prolonged heat and humidity Wed
through Sat with max 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. Focused the headline messaging on the peak
threats rather than trying to slice the bologna too thin. Thus,
Extreme Heat Warnings for most of southern New England. Heat
Advisories for the Cape and Vineyard. The peak of this heat
looks to be in the Thursday-Friday time frame.

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 and Merrimack River valleys. 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 for Independence Day 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 period of heat,
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!

KEY MESSAGE 2...A cluster of showers and a few thunderstorms may
impact parts of our region very late today into tonight. Activity
likely weakening with main severe weather risk to our northwest,
but cannot rule out a low risk across 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 Wed-Fri. However, limited forcing and cap may keep
us mainly dry. Greatest risk for thunderstorms/severe weather
potential might wait until Independence Day 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 a few thunderstorms
do develop, they could quickly become severe, even during the
overnight/morning hours. However, a lack of overall synoptic
forcing and a mid level cap should keep this risk low. This
potential will still need to watched. Greatest risk for
convection and potentially some severe weather may wait until
Independence Day when a cold front and stronger 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.

Tonight...High confidence.

VFR. Still monitoring a cluster of weakening showers and perhaps
a few TSRA moving SE form Ontario. Greatest risk for this activity
will be across western MA/CT. Not expecting fog to redevelop
towards the south coast, but that will also need to be watched.

Wednesday...High confidence.

Mainly VFR but cannot rule out widely scattered showers/t-storms
later Wed into Wed night. SW winds becoming gusty, especially
towards the Cape and islands.

Wednesday Night...High confidence.

VFR. Gusty SW winds continue.

KBOS Terminal...High Confidence in TAF.

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

Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/...

Thursday through Friday: VFR. Breezy.

Friday Night: VFR.

Independence Day: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA, chance TSRA.

Saturday Night through Sunday: VFR. 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.

Through Wednesday Night...High confidence.

Bermuda high pressure will result in a persistent SW flow across
our waters. Winds become gusty tonight and continue into
Wednesday night across the southern waters. In addition, long
southwest fetch should build seas to 3-6 feet across our southern
waters.

Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/...

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

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

Friday through Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of
seas approaching 5 ft.

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

Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers,
slight chance of thunderstorms.

Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.
Slight chance of rain showers.

&&

.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

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...Air Quality Alert from 11 AM to 11 PM EDT Wednesday for
     RIZ001>008.
     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, 2:54 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester66 min
Jun 30, 6:51 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire29 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Connecticut, 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.