Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, May 31, 2002

Name: Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, May 31, 2002
Start: 2002-05-31T16:00
End: 2002-05-31T17:00
Location: Massachusetts

May 31, 2002 · NWS ALY · 6 events in 1 county or zone

During the afternoon and evening of Friday, May 31, a strong cold front clashed with a very unstable air mass across western Massachussetts. In addtion, there were strong divergent winds aloft.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $51,000
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 ALY wrote it up.

During the afternoon and evening of Friday, May 31, a strong cold front clashed with a very unstable air mass across western Massachussetts. In addtion, there were strong divergent winds aloft. All of these parameters set the stage for severe weather across Berkshire County. All of the reports were of wind damage. Numerous trees and some power lines were blown down in the cities of Becket, Lanesborough, Lenox, Otis, Stockbridge and Williamstown.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Albany, NY wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 31, 2:54 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 31, 2:54 PM EST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
355 PM AM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

WORKZONES AVAILABLE. ZONES OUT THE DOOR BY 4.

.DISC...ITS DEJA-VOUS...FROM 4 YEARS AGO THOUGH WE WILL MAY NOT
ISSUE WELL OVER 40 WARNINGS LIKE THAT DAY...WE HAVE ALREADY ISSUE 19
WARNINGS...WITH MANY OF THEM VERIFYING WITH WIND AND HAIL. (SEE THE
LATEST ALBLSRALY FOR ALL THE DETAILS). THERE MIGHT BE A SECOND ROUND
OF SVR AS ANOTHER SERIES OF LINES ARE STILL FIRING UP AHEAD OF THE
REAL FRONT WHICH IS ONLY NOW ENTERING WRN NY STATE. WILL OBVIOUSLY
INCLUDE AN EARLY UPDATE TO INCLUDE ONGOING WX.

MODELS ALL INDICATE THAT THE ACTIVITY SHOULD BE OVER BY 8PM...JUST
AS THE TONIGHT PERIOD REALLY GETS GOING. THE FRONT SHOULD BE
CROSSING THE REGION BY THEN...WITH ALL THE ENERGY AND LIFT EXITING
THE REGION TO THE SE. EXPECT A QUIET NIGHT WITH CLEARING AND
LOWERING HUMIDITY AS THE WIND SHIFTS INTO THE W AND PICKS UP.

THE WEEKEND WILL FEATURE DRIER WX (FOR A CHANGE). HOWEVER...ANOTHER
COLD FRONT...FROM THE STILL MOSTLY FROZEN WATERS OF THE HUDSON BAY
REGION WILL SLIP SOUTH BY LATE IN THE DAY/EVENING HOURS ON SAT. THE
MESO-ETA GIVES A CAPE UP TO NEARLY 500 J/KG N OF KALB BY THE
AFTERNOON...AND AT LEAST 300 ELSEWHERE. DIVERGENCE WITH THE RFQ OF
THE UPPER JETLET WILL SKIM ACROSS OUR NRN SXNS BY LATE IN THE DAY.
HAVE DECIDED TO INCLUDE A CHC TSRA/SHRA LATE IN THE NORTHERN ZONES
BUT WILL KEEP THEM OUT FROM KALB SWD. (THE DIFFERENCE IN POPS
BETWEEN THE MAV AND FWC ARE NEARLY 50...WITH THE MAVS HIGH). BELIEVE
ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP FROM THE CD ON SOUTHWARD WILL BE ISOLATED
IN THE 20 PERCENT RANGE...AND NOT WORTH MENTIONING ATTM.

WILL CONFINE A CHC OF SHRAS/TSRA FOR THE EVENING HOURS ONLY ON SAT
AS THE ATMOSPHERE STABILIZES LATER ON. NO LIFT LEFT...AND SOME
DRYING...SO WILL FORECAST DRY FOR OVERNIGHT. H8 TEMPS PROGGED TO
DROP TO ABOUT 3C BY SUNDAY PM...QUITE UNSEASONABLY COOL FOR THE TIME
OF YEAR. AM CONCERN THERE WILL LOTS OF SC (AND POSSIBLE MOUNTAIN
SHOWERS) FOR SUNDAY...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP DRY WITH A PARTLY TO
MOSTLY SUNNY SKY.

UA FLOW LOOKS SOMEWHAT ZONAL AS WE HEAD INTO NEXT WEEK. THE FLOW
ACTUALLY REMAINS WNW ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY KEEP NEXT SHORT WAVE TO THE
SOUTH...BUT WILL KEEP CHC FROM ABOUT KALB SOUTH SINCE THERE IS STILL
SOME UNCERTAINTY. UNCERTAINTY IS DEFINITELY THERE CONCERNING THE
FOLLOWING SHORT WAVE FOR LATER TUE/WED...BUT AGAIN WILL CONFINE
S...WHILE THE THIRD ONE COULD BRING PCPN EVERYWHERE LATER IN THE
WEEK. NO HEAT WAVES ARE IN THE OFFING...TEMPS WILL RETURN TO
SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONABLE LEVELS DURING THIS TIME FRAME.

.HYDROLOGICAL STATUS...KENX RADAR SHOWS STORM TOTALS TO BE MAX OUT
ABOUT 2 INCHES ACROSS THE MOHAWK VALLEY WITH LESSER AMOUNTS
ELSEWHERE. TOTALS MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT HAIL CONTAMINATED. EITHER
WAY...STORMS HAVE BEEN MOVING QUICKLY (UP TO 50 MPH) AND RAINFALL
THUS FAR HAS NOT BEEN THE MAIN PROBLEM. WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON
THE SECOND BATCH WHICH MIGHT DELIVERY UP TO AN INCH OR 2 MORE
RAINFALL BUT ANY ANY FLOODING THAT MIGHT OCCUR WITH THE NEXT LINE
WOULD BE EXTREMELY LOCALIZED AND NOT WARRANTED A FFA AT THIS
TIME.

.ALY...SVR THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR ALL ZONES UNTIL 7 OR 8 EDT.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 31, 3:08 PM EST, 52 minutes before

MAZ001-312045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
408 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY...

AT 407 PM EDT DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING FROM WILLIAMSTOWN TO 3 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
NEW LEBANON...OR 6 MILES WEST OF NORTH ADAMS 9 MILES WEST OF
PITTSFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF
40 MPH...POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL...AND HEAVY RAIN...WILL BE NEAR...

PITTSFIELD AND CHESHIRE AT 415 PM EDT...
FLORIDA AND DALTON AT 420 PM EDT...
SAVOY AT 425 PM EDT...
EAST WINDSOR AT 430 PM EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
FRIDAY EVENING FOR WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN VERMONT.

WASULA/CEMPA

Local storm report, May 31, 3:16 PM EST, 44 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
416 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0115 PM    ILION                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   HERKIMER                       NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS DOWN.
                                          ILION DPW.

0155 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         PART OF ROOF BLOWN OFF AT
                                          HOLIDAY INN AT JOHNSTOWN

0155 PM    GLOVERSVILLE              NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN

0155 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         POWERLINES AND TREES DOWN

0223 PM    NEW PALTZ                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   ULSTER                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0224 PM    SARATOGA SPGS             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   SARATOGA                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0224 PM    FT ANN                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN

0229 PM    GLENS FALLS               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WARREN                         TREES DOWN

0229 PM    WHITEHALL                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN

0230 PM    FT JOHNSON                NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   MONTGOMERY                     NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
                                          DOWN...ROADS CLOSED

0255 PM    ROTTERDAM                 NY   60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/02   SCHENECTADY                    MEASURED WIND 55 TO 60 MPH

0320 PM    HOOSICK                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   RENSSELAER                     TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0325 PM    SALT PT                   NY   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   DUTCHESS                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0358 PM    GOSHEN                    CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0400 PM    BAKERSVILLE               CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0410 PM    TORRINGTON                CT   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0415 PM    CORNWALL                  CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

NNNN

Local storm report, May 31, 3:32 PM EST, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
432 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

TIME(EDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0115 PM    ILION                     NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   HERKIMER                       NUMEROUS TREE LIMBS DOWN.
                                          ILION DPW.

0155 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         PART OF ROOF BLOWN OFF AT
                                          HOLIDAY INN AT JOHNSTOWN

0155 PM    GLOVERSVILLE              NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         POWER LINES AND TREES DOWN

0155 PM    JOHNSTOWN                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   FULTON                         POWERLINES AND TREES DOWN

0223 PM    NEW PALTZ                 NY   1.75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   ULSTER                         GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL

0224 PM    SARATOGA SPGS             NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   SARATOGA                       NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

0224 PM    FT ANN                    NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN

0229 PM    GLENS FALLS               NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WARREN                         TREES DOWN

0229 PM    WHITEHALL                 NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   WASHINGTON                     TREES DOWN

0230 PM    FT JOHNSON                NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   MONTGOMERY                     NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES
                                          DOWN...ROADS CLOSED

0255 PM    ROTTERDAM                 NY   60 MPH TSTM GUST
05/31/02   SCHENECTADY                    MEASURED WIND 55 TO 60 MPH

0320 PM    HOOSICK                   NY   WIND DAMAGE
05/31/02   RENSSELAER                     TREES AND WIRES DOWN

0325 PM    SALT PT                   NY   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   DUTCHESS                       DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0358 PM    GOSHEN                    CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0400 PM    BAKERSVILLE               CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0405 PM    BAKERSVILLE               CT   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     1 HAIL REPORTED

0410 PM    TORRINGTON                CT   1 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED

0415 PM    CORNWALL                  CT   .75 INCH HAIL
05/31/02   LITCHFIELD                     DIME SIZE HAIL REPORTED

NNNN
KOLECI

Special weather statement, May 31, 3:42 PM EST, 18 minutes before

NYZ063-064-312130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
442 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN ULSTER COUNTY...

AT 441 PM EDT DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 3
MILES WEST OF KERHONKSON...OR 6 MILES NORTH OF ELLENVILLE...MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40
MPH...POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL...AND HEAVY RAIN...WILL BE NEAR...

MOHONK LAKE AT 455 PM EDT...
ROSENDALE AND NEW PALTZ AT 500 PM EDT...
TILLSON AND BLOOMINGTON AT 505 PM EDT...
HIGHLAND AND PORT EWEN AT 510 PM EDT...

RAINFALL AMOUNTS FROM THIS THUNDERSTORM WILL BE AROUND A QUARTER TO
A HALF INCH AN HOUR.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR EASTERN NEW YORK.

WASULA/CEMPA

Special weather statement, May 31, 3:43 PM EST, 17 minutes before

NYZ065-066-312130-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
443 PM EDT FRI MAY 31 2002

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN DUTCHESS COUNTY...

AT 443 PM EDT DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 2
MILES SOUTH OF PLEASANT VALLEY...OR 6 MILES EAST OF POUGHKEEPSIE...
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

THIS THUNDERSTORM...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40
MPH...POSSIBLE SMALL HAIL...AND HEAVY RAIN...WILL BE NEAR...

MILLBROOK AT 450 PM EDT...
DOVER PLAINS AT 455 PM EDT...
AMENIA AT 500 PM EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FRIDAY
EVENING FOR EASTERN NEW YORK.

WASULA/CEMPA

Local storm report, May 31, 3:50 PM EST, 10 minutes before

NEW YORK STATEWIDE POLICE INFORMATION NETWORK
TROOP G
0447PM     FRI MAY 31 2002
2 0000002 000
GFSO WLSR QHQT QTRF APTS WAPT
01383    FILE 28   FULTON CO SHERIFF NY0170000               MAY 31-02
TO       NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
         COPY SEMO DUTY OFFICER
                   THUNDERSTORM/HIGH WIND REPORT

COUNTY(S) AFFECTED: FULTON

LOCATION (INCLUDING TOWN AND NEAREST ROAD): TOWN OF CAROGA, TOWN OF BLEECKER,
CITY OF JOHNSTOWN, GLOVERSVILLE  TOWN OF MAYFIELD
DATE AND TIME CONDITION STARTED: 05-31-02   4:35
EXTENT OF DAMAGE OR AREAS IN DANGER: TREES DOWN AGAIN, POWER LINES DOWN,
STRUCTURES AFFECTED

CHECK ONE:
HAIL SIZE REPORTED
( ) - NO HAIL REPORTED    ( ) - LESS THAN 1/2 (PEA)
(X) - 1/2 (MARBLE)       ( ) - 1/2 TO 3/4 (PENNY)
( ) - 3/4 TO 1 (DIME)   ( ) - 1.25 (HALF DOLLAR)
( ) - 1.50 (WALNUT)      ( ) - 1.75 (GOLFBALL)
( ) - 2.00 (HENS EGG)    ( ) - 2.50 (TENNISBALL)
( ) - 2.75 (BASEBALL)    ( ) - 3.00 (TEA CUP)
( ) - 4.00 (GRAPEFRUIT)  ( ) - 4.50 (SOFTBALL)
NUMBER KILLED:          NUMBER INJURED:

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
LIGHTNING REPORTED AS ( ) - CLOUD TO CLOUD  (X) - CLOUD TO GROUND
LIGHTNING DAMAGE TO:            (X) - TREES
(X) - POWER/TELCO POLES   (X) - POWER/TELCO LINES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     (X) - PRIVATE HOMES
(X) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - CROPS
NUMBER KILLED:          NUMBER INJURED:

CHECK ONE OR MORE AS APPLICABLE:
HIGH WIND/TSTORM WIND DAMAGE   ( ) - CROPS
(X) - SMALL TREES/SHRUBS  ( ) - LARGE TREES
( ) - COMM. BUILDINGS     ( ) - PRIVATE HOMES
( ) - OUT/FARM BUILDINGS  ( ) - POWER/TELCO POLES
(X) - POWER/TELCO LINES

RELIABLE WIND SPEED REPORTS: 50+ MPH OR    KNOTS
NUMBER KILLED:          NUMBER INJURED:

FLOODING (IF EXTENSIVE, SEND SEPARATE FLOOD MESSAGE FROM MENU)
( ) - STORM SEWER OVERFLOWS, UNDERPASSES, STREET FLOODING
( ) - LOCAL SMALL CREEKS OVERFLOWING
( ) - STREAMS AND LARGE CREEKS FLOODING (COMPLETE REMARKS W/DAMAGE

REMARKS:

AUTH PHONE : 517 736-2100

AUTH LIEUTENANT GARTH W HILLIER

OPER - TOMLINSON,ROBIN L              1646

The radar

The Albany radar (KENX), 85 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 4:00 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Becket
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.333, -73.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 4:55 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Williamstown
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.717, -73.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Lanesborough
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.517, -73.217

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Lenox
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.367, -73.283

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Otis
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.200, -73.083

Thunderstorm Wind, Berkshire

When: May 31, 5:00 PM EST
Where: Berkshire County, Stockbridge
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.283, -73.300

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.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, May 2002

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: 5299044, 5299045, 5299046, 5299047, 5299048, 5299049.