Alert archive / Massachusetts / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

August 13, 2026Barnstable County, Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 13, 2:40 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGMiddleborough, MAIn Middleborough, a 6" tree limb was down on Chestnut St.
Aug 13, 3:00 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Bourne, 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Brookhaven, NY at 12:00Z on 2026-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1186 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 2026-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 38 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

FT
2 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

$$

FT
058 
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 

$$

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 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 13, 6:20 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX55 min
Aug 13, 1:03 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX57 min
Aug 13, 2:37 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX53 min
Aug 13, 3:04 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX41 min
Aug 13, 3:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXBarnstable, Plymouth18 min
Aug 13, 3:25 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX20 min
Aug 13, 5:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden, Worcester44 min
Aug 13, 6:45 PM EDTSpecial Marine WarningBOX60 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.