Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, July 9, 1997

Name: Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, July 9, 1997
Start: 1997-07-09T13:40
End: 1997-07-09T14:30
Location: Massachusetts

July 9, 1997 · NWS ALY · 6 events in 1 county or zone

During the early afternoon hours of July 9, a cold front crossed Berkshire County. This front initiated severe thunderstorms in several locations across the county.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 1
Property damage: $19,000
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 ALY wrote it up.

During the early afternoon hours of July 9, a cold front crossed Berkshire County. This front initiated severe thunderstorms in several locations across the county. Damaging winds downed trees and wires in Lee, Stockbridge and Great Barrington. In Lenox, lightning struck a man and caused a house fire. In Stockbridge, torrential rain caused flash flooding along roads and streams.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: July 9, 1:40 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Lee
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 42.320, -73.250

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: July 9, 1:50 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Lee
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 42.320, -73.250

Lightning, Berkshire

When: July 9, 1:50 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Lenox
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $4,000
Coordinates: 42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Berkshire

When: July 9, 2:00 PM EST to 2:30 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Stockbridge
Property damage: $4,000
Coordinates: 42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: July 9, 2:10 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Great Barrington
Property damage: $4,000
Coordinates: 42.200, -73.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: July 9, 2:20 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Stockbridge
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 42.280, -73.300

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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: 5607340, 5607341, 5607342, 5607343, 5607344, 5607345.