Massachusetts, 2000

Flash Flooding and Flooding in Massachusetts, April 21 to 27, 2000

April 21 to 27, 2000 · NWS BOX · 15 events in 12 counties and zones

Low pressure moving across southeast New England brought heavy rain to much of central and eastern Massachusetts. Many areas received 3 to 5 inches of rain, resulting in widespread urban flooding and minor flooding of rivers and streams.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
15

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.

Low pressure moving across southeast New England brought heavy rain to much of central and eastern Massachusetts. Many areas received 3 to 5 inches of rain, resulting in widespread urban flooding and minor flooding of rivers and streams. In Essex County, as much as 4.85 inches of rain fell in Byfield. Proctor and Goldwaith Brooks flooded Peabody Square, and flooding was also reported in Saugus and Salem. In Boston, 2.53 inches of rain fell at Logan International Airport. Flooding was reported in Kenmore Square. Middlesex County received as much as 4.55 inches of rain, which fell in Ayer. Minor flooding occurred on the Sudbury River in Ashland. Norfolk and Plymouth Counties received just under 4 inches of rain. Widespread urban flooding was reported in Brookline. Holden, in Worcester County, reported 4.40 inches of rain. Phillips Brook in Leominster flooded a portion of Route 12, and a pickup truck was stranded in flood waters. No flood damage was reported.Minor flooding then occurred on mainstem rivers and their tributaries, with crests generally up to one foot above flood stage. Specific crests of rivers which went into flood include the North Nashua River at Fitchburg (6.54 feet at 315 am on the 22nd), the Blackstone River at Northbridge (9.22 feet at 1015 am on the 22nd), the Shawsheen River at Wilmington (7.0 feet at 515 am on the 23rd), the Assabet River at Maynard (5.62 feet at 800 am on the 24th), the Nashua River at East Pepperell (8.91 feet at 545 pm on the 24th), and the Sudbury River at Saxonville (10.89 feet at 815 pm on the 24th). No flood damage was reported.Strong winds also buffeted parts of eastern Massachusetts. A peak wind gust of 54 mph was reported at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton. At Logan International Airport in Boston, the peak wind gust of 48 mph at 422 am damaged an air traffic control radar antenna, causing delays for hundreds of Easter weekend travelers. The antenna was replaced a few days later, but flight delays continued well into the week.

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood, 4 flash flood, 3 heavy rain, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Bristol

When
April 21, 9:00 PM EST to April 22, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Bristol County, Taunton
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Norfolk

When
April 21, 9:00 PM EST to April 22, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Norfolk County, Weymouth
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Plymouth

When
April 21, 9:00 PM EST to April 22, 1:00 PM EST
Where
Plymouth County, Plymouth
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Northern Worcester

When
April 22, 12:30 AM EST to 4:35 AM EST
Where
Northern Worcester forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

North Nashua River at Fitchburg

Flash Flood, Essex

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Essex County, Saugus
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Suffolk

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Suffolk County, Boston
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
42.356, -71.066 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Middlesex

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Middlesex County, Ashland
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Worcester

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 10:00 AM EST
Where
Worcester County, Leominster
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Phillips Brook

Strong Wind, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where
Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When
April 22, 4:00 AM EST to 5:00 AM EST
Where
Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Southern Worcester

When
April 22, 7:35 AM EST to 2:18 PM EST
Where
Southern Worcester forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blackstone River at Northbridge

Flood, Western Middlesex

When
April 22, 11:36 PM EST to April 25, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Assabet River at Maynard

Flood, Western Middlesex

When
April 23, 4:15 AM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Shawsheen River at Wilmington

Flood, Western Middlesex

When
April 23, 10:52 AM EST to April 24, 10:15 PM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Nashua River at East Pepperell

Flood, Western Middlesex

When
April 23, 9:00 PM EST to April 27, 5:15 AM EST
Where
Western Middlesex forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sudbury River at Saxonville

What these are

Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.
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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, April 2000

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: 5139580, 5139581, 5139582, 5139590, 5139583, 5139584, 5139585, 5139586, 5139587, 5139588, 5139592, 5139591, 5141783, 5139589, 5141782.