Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Massachusetts, July 17, 1997

Name: Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Massachusetts, July 17, 1997
Start: 1997-07-17T18:50
End: 1997-07-17T19:35
Location: Massachusetts

July 17, 1997 · NWS BOX · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

then farther to the east into Worcester County. Trees were reported blown down in Northfield and Orange.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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Winter weather
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Fire, smoke and dust
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $3,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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.

Severe thunderstorms during the evening caused scattered wind damage in parts of Franklin and Hampshire Counties...then farther to the east into Worcester County. Trees were reported blown down in Northfield and Orange. A chicken coop was struck by lightning and caught fire in Orange. Also in Orange, lightning struck the police station, resulting in damage to computers and other equipment. Several trees were downed in Hatfield and Northampton, where wind gusts were reported up to 60 mph along with pea size hail. Tree branches were downed in Amherst. In Worcester County, trees were blown down in Hardwick, West Brookfield, Athol, Barre, and Phillipston.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hampshire

When: July 17, 6:50 PM EST to 7:02 PM EST
Where: Hampshire County, Northampton to Hatfield
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 42.320, -72.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: July 17, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Northfield
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.700, -72.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When: July 17, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Orange
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.580, -72.300

Lightning, Franklin

When: July 17, 6:55 PM EST
Where: Franklin County, Orange
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Worcester

When: July 17, 7:21 PM EST to 7:23 PM EST
Where: Worcester County, Hardwick to West Brookfield
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.350, -72.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Worcester

When: July 17, 7:25 PM EST to 7:35 PM EST
Where: Worcester County, Athol to Barre
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 42.600, -72.220

Also affected Phillipston.

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, July 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: 5613924, 5613921, 5613922, 5613923, 5613925, 5613926.