Massachusetts, 1998

Strong Wind in Massachusetts, June 27, 1998

June 27, 1998 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A "back door" cold front moved south along the Massachusetts east coast and then along the south coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands. North winds gusting between 35 and 47 mph occurred in the wake of the front and raised havoc with small craft up and down the coast.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$10,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 "back door" cold front moved south along the Massachusetts east coast and then along the south coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands. North winds gusting between 35 and 47 mph occurred in the wake of the front and raised havoc with small craft up and down the coast. A peak gust to 47 mph was reported from Wareham. In Boston Harbor, a sailing vessel was dismasted and several boats were blown from their moorings. A person was injured off of Hull due to excessive rolling of the boat. In Gloucester, a sailboat was blown onto the rocks. On Cape Cod, in Woods Hole, many boats were blown from their moorings and off the coast of Falmouth, 16 people had to be rescued after their boats capsized. In Chatham a small boat capsized, resulting in a person being thrown into the water. Two small boats were blown onto a breakwater. In Provincetown, a sailboat was blown onto a breakwater.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Eastern Essex

When
June 27, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Essex forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When
June 27, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Barnstable forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When
June 27, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Plymouth

When
June 27, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When
June 27, 1:00 PM EST to 7:00 PM EST
Where
Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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: 5661030, 5661031, 5661032, 5661033, 5661034.