Massachusetts, 2000

Flash Flooding and Hail in Massachusetts, June 2, 2000

June 2, 2000 · NWS ALY · 5 events in 1 county or zone

A powerful cold front moved across the Berkshires on June 2. The air mass was very unstable ahead of the cold front.

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
$38,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 ALY wrote it up.

A powerful cold front moved across the Berkshires on June 2. The air mass was very unstable ahead of the cold front. This scenario resulted in numerous thunderstorms, a few of which became severe late Friday afternoon. Thunderstorms produced wind damage at Sheffield and the city of Pittsfield. Dime size hail also fell in Pittsfield. Nickel size hail was reported in Sheffield. Torrential rains from the thunderstorms produced flash flooding at Lenox and Pittsfield. Water as high as three feet deep was noted on roads in both towns.

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:26 UTC.

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Event by event

2 flash flood, 2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When
June 2, 3:25 PM EST
Where
Berkshire County, Pittsfield
Property damage
$31,000
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.450, -73.250

Flash Flood, Berkshire

When
June 2, 3:40 PM EST to 4:00 PM EST
Where
Berkshire County, Pittsfield
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Berkshire

When
June 2, 3:41 PM EST
Where
Berkshire County, Pittsfield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.450, -73.250

Flash Flood, Berkshire

When
June 2, 4:00 PM EST
Where
Berkshire County, Lenox
Property damage
$4,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
42.371, -73.206 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Berkshire

When
June 2, 4:05 PM EST
Where
Berkshire County, Sheffield
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
42.100, -73.350

What these are

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.
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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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, June 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: 5150631, 5150632, 5150633, 5150634, 5150714.