Massachusetts, 1998

Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Massachusetts, June 18, 1998

June 18, 1998 · NWS BOX · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

One person was struck and slightly injured by lightning in Westboro, in Worcester County, during an afternoon thunderstorm. A late afternoon thunderstorm produced a torrential downpour in several towns in eastern Norfolk County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

One person was struck and slightly injured by lightning in Westboro, in Worcester County, during an afternoon thunderstorm. A late afternoon thunderstorm produced a torrential downpour in several towns in eastern Norfolk County. The Blue Hill Observatory in Milton recorded 3.02 inches of rain in just 36 minutes ending at 5 PM. A total of 3.36 inches of rain was recorded for the afternoon storm and this brought the total rainfall from June 12th through the 18th to 12.16 inches. Many roads were flooded in the western part of Milton. In Randolph, where Route 28 and Route 139 were flooded, an observer reported 2.25 inches in 40 minutes. In Braintree, Route 3 was flooded in both directions while in Quincy, Route 37 was also flooded in both directions. In Wellesley Hills, Route 9 was flooded and a spotter reported 2.35 inches of rain in 35 minutes. Up to 5,000 electric customers lost power in the Quincy-Milton area for up to 2 hours. Another 3,000 electric customers lost power in Randolph.

The radar

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

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Event by event

2 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Worcester

When
June 18, 2:40 PM EST
Where
Worcester County, Westborough
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Norfolk

When
June 18, 4:00 PM EST to 4:40 PM EST
Where
Norfolk County, Milton
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Norfolk

When
June 18, 5:00 PM EST
Where
Norfolk County, Wellesley
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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, June 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: 5660882, 5660883, 5660884.