Massachusetts, 1998

Hail and Damaging Wind in Massachusetts, August 11, 1998

August 11, 1998 · NWS BOX · 4 events in 3 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms affected several places in Middlesex and Essex Counties during mid-evening. In Middlesex County, nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Billerica along with a wind gust to 45 mph.

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.

  • 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
0
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 affected several places in Middlesex and Essex Counties during mid-evening. In Middlesex County, nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Billerica along with a wind gust to 45 mph. The hail fell for about 20 minutes. In Wayland, a half-inch of rain fell in 10 minutes and a wind gust to 42 mph was reported. Dime size hail was reported in Tewksbury. In Essex County, thunderstorm winds gusting to an estimated 60 mph blew down several large trees, which resulted in scattered power outages in Methuen and Haverhill. In Norfolk County, four homes sustained minor damage in Milton from several lightning strikes between 10:00 and 10:30 PM. Damage included a few roof shingles blown off at one home, chimney bricks knocked down at another, and circuit breakers damaged at two other homes.

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Middlesex

When
August 11, 8:45 PM EST to 9:06 PM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Billerica
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.550, -71.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Essex

When
August 11, 9:00 PM EST
Where
Essex County, Methuen to Haverhill
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.720, -71.180

Lightning, Norfolk

When
August 11, 9:00 PM EST to 9:30 PM EST
Where
Norfolk County, Milton
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Middlesex

When
August 11, 9:30 PM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Tewksbury
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.620, -71.230

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, August 1998

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: 5664291, 5664292, 5664294, 5664293.