Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 13, 2026, 2:25 PM EDT for Barnstable County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. 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
- Aug 13, 2026, 2:25 PM EDT (18:25 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 13, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT
- In force
- 65 min
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.88 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Barnstable County, MA, Bristol County, MA, Plymouth County, MA
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 42 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2:40 PM EDT | TSTM WND DMG | Middleborough, MA | In Middleborough, a 6" tree limb was down on Chestnut St. |
| Aug 13, 3:00 PM EDT | HAIL 0.75 | Bourne, MA |
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 one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 15 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, 6.4 hours before the alert went out and 208 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
- 1186 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -9 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 561 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 35 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 38 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 42 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.3
- Supercell composite
- 1.7
The text
As transmitted.
112
WUUS51 KBOX 131825
SVRBOX
MAC001-005-023-131930-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0049.260813T1825Z-260813T1930Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
225 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Western Barnstable County in southeastern Massachusetts...
Southern Plymouth County in southeastern Massachusetts...
Central Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts...
* Until 330 PM EDT.
* At 225 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over
Middleborough, or near Bridgewater, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
* Locations impacted include...
Plymouth, Taunton, Bridgewater, Marion, Middleborough, Wareham,
Bourne, East Bridgewater, Raynham, Kingston, Carver, Lakeville,
Hanson, Halifax, Rochester, and Plympton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4163 7069 4165 7069 4164 7072 4190 7105
4204 7089 4184 7050 4183 7049 4182 7047
TIME...MOT...LOC 1825Z 310DEG 13KT 4192 7088
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FT2 follow-up statements
420
WWUS51 KBOX 131855
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
255 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
MAC005-131905-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SV.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T1930Z/
Bristol MA-
255 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL BRISTOL COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
LAT...LON 4163 7069 4165 7068 4164 7071 4184 7095
4198 7079 4184 7050 4183 7050 4182 7047
TIME...MOT...LOC 1855Z 310DEG 13KT 4185 7077
$$
MAC001-023-131930-
/O.CON.KBOX.SV.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T1930Z/
Barnstable MA-Plymouth MA-
255 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 330 PM EDT
FOR WESTERN BARNSTABLE AND SOUTHEASTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTIES...
At 255 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Carver, or 7
miles west of Plymouth, moving southeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines.
Locations impacted include...
Plymouth, Marion, Middleborough, Wareham, Bourne, Kingston, Carver,
Lakeville, Rochester, and Plympton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
&&
LAT...LON 4163 7069 4165 7068 4164 7071 4184 7095
4198 7079 4184 7050 4183 7050 4182 7047
TIME...MOT...LOC 1855Z 310DEG 13KT 4185 7077
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
FT058
WWUS51 KBOX 131924
SVSBOX
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
324 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
MAC001-023-131934-
/O.EXP.KBOX.SV.W.0049.000000T0000Z-260813T1930Z/
Barnstable MA-Plymouth MA-
324 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WESTERN BARNSTABLE AND
SOUTHEASTERN PLYMOUTH COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 330 PM EDT...
The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However gusty
winds are still possible with this thunderstorm.
LAT...LON 4163 7069 4165 7068 4164 7071 4184 7095
4198 7079 4184 7050 4183 7050 4182 7047
TIME...MOT...LOC 1924Z 310DEG 13KT 4180 7068
$$
FTWhat 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 Aug 13, 1:33 PM EDT, 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible today and Friday.
- Dry, seasonable, and comfortable weather returns for the weekend.
- Rain chances return late Sunday into Monday, followed by quieter weather into the middle of next week.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 1:33 PM EDT, 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 133 PM EDT Thu Aug 13 2026 .WHAT HAS CHANGED... Monitoring early morning shower and embedded thunderstorms across southern New England, though storms aren't anticipated to become severe. && .KEY MESSAGES... - Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible today and Friday. - Dry, seasonable, and comfortable weather returns for the weekend. - Rain chances return late Sunday into Monday, followed by quieter weather into the middle of next week. && .DISCUSSION... KEY MESSAGE 1...Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible today and Friday. Monitoring a cluster of showers with embedded thunderstorms south of I-90 early this morning, mainly impacting Connecticut as of 0530Z. While storms remain sub-severe, they are producing lightning and localized wind gusts up to 40 mph. This complex of showers and storms will move east toward Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts prior to sunrise, leading to a wet start for the early morning commute. However, multiple runs of the HRRR overnight have shown the potential for a secondary cluster of showers and embedded thunderstorms to redevelop across eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts from 09Z to 12Z. Otherwise, expect a cloudy start to the day. Clouds disperse this afternoon with daytime heating and mixing within the boundary layer, allowing temperatures to warm into the lower to middle 80s. Storm coverage this afternoon remains limited. As mentioned by the previous forecaster, the mid-levels are dry with northwest flow. Outside of a few hit-or-miss showers, the afternoon is largely dry as the better forcing remains associated with the mid- level trough and shortwave across northern New England. By late this evening, the first cold front moves offshore, with a secondary surge of drier air reinforcing on Friday. CAMs try to initiate a few pop- up storms along the edge of this boundary, but given the dry air in place, don't expect anything more than isolated coverage of garden- variety thunderstorms. The vast majority of southern New England remains dry, with lower humidity and highs in the lower 80s. KEY MESSAGE 2...Dry, seasonable, and comfortable weather returns for the weekend. Quiet weather-wise this weekend as an area of high pressure originating from northern Canada settles across the Northeast for Saturday and the first half of Sunday. PWATs lower quite dramatically, with values between 0.5 and 0.7 inches, or nearly one standard deviation below normal. Thus, little to no humidity is expected Saturday, and conditions may actually feel quite dry, with almost fall-like humidity. Temperatures remain near seasonable levels, ranging from the upper 70s to lower 80s. Saturday night into Sunday morning, clear skies and light winds provide favorable conditions for effective radiational cooling. Lows tumble into the mid-50s, while urban centers hover near 60 degrees. On Sunday, high pressure exits as a low pressure system approaches from the Great Lakes region. Warm air advection ushers moisture northward from the southwest with the passage of a warm front, resulting in increasing cloud cover through the afternoon. Temperatures remain seasonable and similar to Saturday, though dew points increase to near 60 degrees. KEY MESSAGE 3...Rain chances return late Sunday into Monday, followed by quieter weather into the middle of next week. The next opportunity for rainfall comes during the second half of Sunday into Monday. However, there remains uncertainty regarding rainfall amounts, as the best forcing is associated with the surface low and track variability makes it difficult to pin down where the greatest rainfall will occur. This is worth monitoring, as global guidance is in agreement that PWATs may exceed 2 inches, indicating the potential for heavy rainfall. This is also supported by a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall. Global ensembles highlight areas north of I-90 as having the greatest likelihood for measurable rainfall, with a 40-60 percent probability of at least a half inch of rain between Sunday evening and Monday evening. That said, if rainfall becomes more convective, localized totals could be higher. One positive is that this system appears progressive, with the cold front clearing east of New England on Monday. Drier air then advects in from the northwest, leading to another dry stretch from the latter half of Monday through Tuesday and Wednesday as surface high pressure builds back into the region. During this time, temperatures are expected to remain seasonable, with highs in the lower to middle 80s and tolerable humidity as dew points remain in the lower 60s. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Forecaster Confidence Levels... Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Rest of Today...Moderate confidence. Chance for SHRA/TS remains through this afternoon, and we have even seen one storm over the south shore pop up. CU out across much of E to SE MA is quite agitated, so this will continue to be monitored through the day. Spotty coverage continues to be the expectation. Winds have started shifting more WNW/NW and will continue to do so from W to E as the afternoon goes on and the front moves through. Winds should generally remain around or below 10 kt. Tonight...High confidence. Any lingering SHRA dissipates early, with VFR conditions prevailing thereafter. Low probability of some patchy fog in the CT Valley a little before sunrise. NW winds 5-10 kt. Friday...High confidence. VFR. Low probability of an isolated afternoon thunderstorm across interior southern New England, so not included in TAFs at this time; otherwise, dry. NW winds 8-12 kt. Friday Night...High confidence. VFR. Light NW to N winds that may go calm in some areas, particularly in the interior. Given the drier conditions, probability for fog in the usual areas is low at this time. KBOS Terminal...High confidence. KBDL Terminal...High confidence. Outlook /Friday Night through Tuesday/... Friday Night through Saturday Night: VFR. Sunday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA. Sunday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Monday: VFR. Breezy. Chance SHRA. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels... Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Through Friday...High confidence. Early morning showers and embedded thunderstorms across the southern waters off the coasts of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts today will clear by mid to late morning. SW to SSW winds are expected today, with gusts around 20 kt. Winds shift to the NW tonight at 10-15 kt and continue through Friday, along with dry conditions. Seas will remain below 3 ft throughout the forecast period. Outlook /Friday Night through Tuesday/... Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain showers. Saturday through Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain showers. Sunday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Local rough seas. Chance of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms. Monday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && DISCUSSION...Dooley AVIATION...BW/Dooley/Hrencecin MARINE...Dooley
The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 6:20 AM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 55 min | |
| Aug 13, 1:03 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 57 min | |
| Aug 13, 2:37 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 53 min | |
| Aug 13, 3:04 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 41 min | |
| Aug 13, 3:15 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Barnstable, Plymouth | 18 min |
| Aug 13, 3:25 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 20 min | |
| Aug 13, 5:09 PM EDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BOX | Hampden, Worcester | 44 min |
| Aug 13, 6:45 PM EDT | Special Marine Warning | BOX | 60 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.