Massachusetts, 1998

Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Massachusetts, May 6, 1998

May 6, 1998 · NWS BOX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A slow-moving cold front caused thunderstorms which dropped heavy rain across much of Hampden County during the late afternoon and early evening of May 6th. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were reported in just a few hours.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 slow-moving cold front caused thunderstorms which dropped heavy rain across much of Hampden County during the late afternoon and early evening of May 6th. Rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were reported in just a few hours. This resulted in flash flooding along several small streams, including the Pecousic River and Watchaug Brook in Longmeadow. Damage was minor and confined to isolated road damage and basement flooding of several homes along the streams. In addition, flooding was reported on Route 186 in East Longmeadow and Dwight Road in Longmeadow. Water receded by 10 PM. Several basements were reported flooded in Springfield and Chicopee. In Chicopee Falls, runoff swamped intersections and left motorists stranded when their cars stalled. There were many reports of small hail during the late afternoon and early evening. Among the reports were pea size hail at Monson, Springfield, Ludlow, and Wilbraham. Half-inch, or marble-size hail, fell in Belchertown and pea size hail fell in Amherst, both located in Hampshire County.

The radar

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

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Event by event

1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Eastern Hampden

When
May 6, 4:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Hampden forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hampden

When
May 6, 7:30 PM EST to 9:40 PM EST
Where
Hampden County, Longmeadow
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.135, -72.632 (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.
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.

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: 5656058, 5656059.