Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin
- When
- August 16, 7:00 PM EST to 7:15 PM EST
- Where
- Franklin County, Northfield
- Measured
- 75 kt (86 mph)
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 42.700, -72.620
Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, August 16, 1997
A severe thunderstorm caused wind damage in Franklin County in Northfield. A National Weather Service survey indicated that a microburst occurred in Northfield with an estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 80 to 90 mph.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 2
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
What happened
The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.
A severe thunderstorm caused wind damage in Franklin County in Northfield. A National Weather Service survey indicated that a microburst occurred in Northfield with an estimated thunderstorm wind gust of 80 to 90 mph. All trees fell in a single direction toward the northeast. The path of the damage was about one half-mile in length and occurred on Pine Meadow Road off of Route 63. A tree fell onto a house and narrowly missed a baby sleeping in a crib. Poles and wires were downed and Route 2 was closed. A cornfield was damaged and a farm stand toppled. In Worcester County, trees were reported blown down in Athol.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Worcester
- When
- August 16, 7:35 PM EST
- Where
- Worcester County, Athol
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph)
- Coordinates
- 42.600, -72.220
What these are
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Heat in Maryland, August 16 to 17, 1997
- Heat in Virginia, August 16 to 17, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Ohio, August 16, 1997
- Heat in District of Columbia, August 16 to 17, 1997
- Heat in Pennsylvania, August 16 to 17, 1997
- Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1997
- Damaging Winds in New York, August 16, 1997
- Tornado in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1997
- Tornado in Pennsylvania, August 16, 1997
- Damaging Wind in New Jersey, August 16, 1997
- Damaging Wind in New Jersey, August 16, 1997
- Damaging Wind in New Jersey, August 16, 1997
More
Every storm in Massachusetts in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, August 1997
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5621398, 5621399.