Strong Wind and Heavy Rain in Massachusetts, January 15, 1999

Name: Strong Wind and Heavy Rain in Massachusetts, January 15, 1999
Start: 1999-01-15T09:00
End: 1999-01-15T17:00
Location: Massachusetts

January 15, 1999 · NWS BOX · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

Rainfall of 1 to 2 inches combined with rapid snowmelt to result in considerable urban street flooding and ponding of water in low lying areas. There were also many reports of basement flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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: 11

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.

Rainfall of 1 to 2 inches combined with rapid snowmelt to result in considerable urban street flooding and ponding of water in low lying areas. There were also many reports of basement flooding. The problem was aggravated by storm drains which became clogged by snow and ice. Temperatures rose rapidly from the 20's and 30's into the 40's and 50's, which melted much of the 8 to 15 inches of snow which was on the ground. Scattered thunderstorms also accompanied the heavy rain. In southeastern Massachusetts, strong southeast winds of 40 to 50 mph were also reported.The most severe street flooding occurred in Greater Boston, where many cars were submerged or stalled in low lying areas. In Boston, the Callahan Tunnel flooded, stranding several vehicles. Several cars were submerged in flood waters when underpasses on Route 128 in Dedham and Needham flooded out. No injuries were reported.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 strong wind, 5 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Eastern Plymouth

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Dukes

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Dukes forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.389, -70.699 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Nantucket

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Nantucket forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Bristol

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Worcester

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Worcester County, Worcester
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Middlesex

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Middlesex County, Framingham
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Norfolk

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Norfolk County, Norwood
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Bristol

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Bristol County, Taunton
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Plymouth

When: January 15, 9:00 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Plymouth County, Plymouth
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (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.
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

Every storm in Massachusetts in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, January 1999

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: 5683709, 5683710, 5683711, 5683712, 5683713, 5683714, 5683715, 5683716, 5683717, 5683718, 5683719.