Flash Flooding and Flooding in Massachusetts, March 8 to 13, 1998

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Massachusetts, March 8 to 13, 1998
Start: 1998-03-08T17:00
End: 1998-03-13T05:00
Location: Massachusetts

March 8 to 13, 1998 · NWS BOX · 53 events in 27 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 53 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $300,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 53

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 powerful storm system moving very slowly from the Ohio Valley to the eastern Great Lakes caused strong winds and heavy rainfall to Massachusetts, resulting in urban street flooding, basement flooding, small stream flooding, and main stem river flooding. At times, the rainfall was torrential, especially during thunderstorms during the evening on March 9th. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were the most common, but totals exceeding 4 inches did occur in all areas of the state. Most of the rainfall occurred during a 30-hour period resulting in considerable urban street flooding. Many roads had to be closed for periods ranging from a few hours up to 12 to 24 hours. Some of the maximum storm total rainfall amounts included: Oxford, 5.44 "; Ware, 4.90"; Brimfield, 4.40"; Wales, 4.10"; Worcester Airport, 4.06"; Holland, 4.03"; Onset and West Bridgewater, 4.00"; Wilbraham, 3.80"; Mansfield, 3.74"; and Hampden, 3.70". Record daily rainfalls for March 9th were recorded at Boston and Worcester, with amounts of 2.14" and 3.73", respectively. Strong south winds gusted to 74 mph atop Blue Hill Observatory in Milton at 2 PM on March 9th and much of the central and eastern part experienced strong south-southeast to south winds with gusts from 40 to 55 mph after the passage of a warm front during the mid to late morning hours. The Blackstone River at Northbridge reached flood stage of 9 feet at 8 PM on March 9th and crested at 10.7 feet at 5 AM on March 10th, then fell below flood stage at 3:30 PM.. Hardest hit towns were the Blackstone Valley communities of Northbridge and Uxbridge. One official termed it "the worst flooding in 20 years." Numerous houses had flooded basements and at least six houses had serious flooding. The Nashua River at East Pepperell reached flood stage of 8 feet at 11 AM on March 10th and crested at 9.7 feet at 11 PM on March 11th, then fell below flood stage at 5 AM on March 13th. The Assabet River at Maynard reached a crest of 5.6 feet at 7 AM on March 11th; flood stage is 5 feet. The Merrimack River at Lowell reached a crest of 51.2 feet at 10 PM on March 11th, just below flood stage of 52 feet. Several small streams reached flood stage in central and western Massachusetts. The Ware River at Gibbs Crossing in Hampshire County reached flood stage of 7 feet at 5 AM on March 10th. The Quaboug River at West Brimfield in Hampden County reached flood stage of 6.5 feet at 7 PM on March 9th. The North Nashua River at Fitchburg reached flood stage of 6.5 feet at 4 PM on March 9th. The Wading River in Norton (Bristol County) reached flood stage of 9 feet at 1 AM on March 10th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 strong wind, 22 heavy rain, 4 flash flood, 3 flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Western Hampden

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Hampden forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Hampshire

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Hampshire forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Middlesex

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Norfolk

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Plymouth

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Franklin

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Barnstable

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Dukes

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Dukes forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Essex

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Franklin

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Hampden

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Hampshire

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Hampshire forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Norfolk

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Northern Bristol

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Northern Worcester

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Northern Worcester forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southeast Middlesex

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southern Bristol

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southern Plymouth

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Southern Worcester

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Southern Worcester forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Western Essex

When: March 8, 5:00 PM EST to March 9, 12:00 AM EST
Where: Western Essex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Franklin

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dukes

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Dukes forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Essex

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Franklin

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Franklin forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.583, -72.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Hampden

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Hampshire

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Hampshire forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Nantucket

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Nantucket forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Northern Bristol

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Northern Worcester

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Northern Worcester forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southeast Middlesex

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Bristol

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Worcester

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Worcester forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Essex

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Essex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Hampden

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Hampden forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Hampshire

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Hampshire forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Middlesex

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Norfolk

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Norfolk forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Western Plymouth

When: March 9, 8:00 AM EST to 10:00 PM EST
Where: Western Plymouth forecast zone
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When: March 9, 2:01 PM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph)
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Worcester

When: March 9, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Worcester County, Fitchburg
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hampden

When: March 9, 7:00 PM EST
Where: Hampden County, West Brimfield
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southern Worcester

When: March 9, 8:00 PM EST to March 10, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Southern Worcester forecast zone
Property damage: $300,000
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Bristol

When: March 10, 1:00 AM EST
Where: Bristol County, Norton
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hampshire

When: March 10, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Hampshire County, Gibbs Crossing
Coordinates: 42.340, -72.664 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Western Middlesex

When: March 10, 11:00 AM EST to March 13, 5:00 AM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Western Middlesex

When: March 11, 7:00 AM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, March 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: 5642614, 5642615, 5642616, 5642617, 5642618, 5642911, 5642912, 5642913, 5642914, 5642915, 5642916, 5642917, 5642918, 5642919, 5642920, 5642921, 5642922, 5642923, 5642924, 5642925, 5642926, 5642927, 5642619, 5642620, 5642621, 5642622, 5642623, 5642624, 5642625, 5642626, 5642627, 5642628, 5642629, 5642630, 5642631, 5642632, 5642633, 5642634, 5642635, 5642636, and more.