Massachusetts, 1998

Hail and Damaging Wind in Massachusetts, May 31, 1998

May 31, 1998 · NWS BOX · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

A severe thunderstorm moved eastward across northern Massachusetts, producing some large hail and one report of damaging thunderstorm winds during the late morning and early afternoon. The storm affected a few towns in northern Worcester and northern Middlesex Counties and the town of Peabody in Essex County.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
None recorded
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 BOX wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm moved eastward across northern Massachusetts, producing some large hail and one report of damaging thunderstorm winds during the late morning and early afternoon. The storm affected a few towns in northern Worcester and northern Middlesex Counties and the town of Peabody in Essex County. In Worcester County, dime size hail fell in Gardner. In Middlesex County, nickel size hail fell in Lowell and dime size hail was reported in Chelmsford. Trees up to 3 to 4 inches in diameter were blown down in Littleton, also in Middlesex County. Nickel and dime size hail fell in Peabody, in Essex County.

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:18 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Worcester

When
May 31, 10:17 AM EST
Where
Worcester County, Gardner
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.570, -71.980

Hail, Middlesex

When
May 31, 10:58 AM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Chelmsford Center
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.580, -71.330

Hail, Essex

When
May 31, 10:58 AM EST
Where
Essex County, Peabody
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.530, -70.920

Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex

When
May 31, 11:00 AM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Littleton
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.530, -71.500

Hail, Middlesex

When
May 31, 11:08 AM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Lowell
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.630, -71.280

Hail, Essex

When
May 31, 11:10 AM EST
Where
Essex County, Peabody
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.530, -70.920

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.

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, May 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: 5656279, 5656280, 5656281, 5656282, 5656283, 5656284.