Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex
- When
- August 5, 3:15 PM EST to 3:25 PM EST
- Where
- Middlesex County, Natick
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Injuries
- 4 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.283, -71.350
Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, August 5, 2005
Showers and thunderstorms developed in a humid airmass ahead of an approaching cold front during the afternoon across central and eastern Massachusetts. Some of these thunderstorms were severe, producing damaging wind and even microburst damage.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 6
- Property damage
- $213,000
- 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.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in a humid airmass ahead of an approaching cold front during the afternoon across central and eastern Massachusetts. Some of these thunderstorms were severe, producing damaging wind and even microburst damage. These severe winds brought down wires, limbs, and trees, which, in turn, injured people, damaged cars and houses, closed roads, and knocked out electricity to thousands of customers.In Natick, a fast-moving severe thunderstorm knocked down at least one dozen trees at a state park. Four females who had sought refuge from the storm under a tree were injured when the tree blew down. They were treated for minor injuries.In Douglas, microburst damage was reported along Railroad Avenue. This microburst brought down many large trees, which caused many roads to be blocked and impassible, and it resulted in one minor and one significant injury. The person significantly injured is expected to recover.Another microburst downed approximately 100 trees in the Wenham area, with about 40 trees downed along a short stretch of Cherry Street in Wenham. A number of the downed trees ranged from one foot to three feet in diameter. Some of these trees damaged homes, vehicles, and wires.Six known injuries resulted from these severe thunderstorms.
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 Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 5, 3:03 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 3:03 PM EST, 12 minutes before
CIGS. P6SM SCT-BKN060 AREAS SFC WND G35KT 1SM +TSRA CIGS
OVC020CB...AFT 23Z P6SM SCT050 BKN120.Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 5, 4:15 AM EST, 11 hours before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 515 AM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-060900- BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT- NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT- WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT- 515 AM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST CONNECTICUT...SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...AND MASSACHUSETTS FROM THE EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES TO THE INTERSTATE 495 CORRIDOR IN NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS. .DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING TRIGGERING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED TO BE THE MAIN THREAT IN ANY THUNDERSTORMS. A HEAT WAVE IN THE HARTFORD/SPRINGFIELD AREA OF THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY WILL COME TO AN END LATE THIS AFTERNOON. TODAY WILL BE THE 4TH DAY IN A ROW WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR ABOVE 90 DEGREES...AND A HEAT INDEX NEAR 100 DEGREES. THE FRONTAL PASSAGE LATE THIS AFTERNOON WILL BRING A DRIER AND RELATIVELY COOLER AIRMASS...BRINGING AN END TO THE HEAT WAVE JUST IN TIME FOR THE WEEKEND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY)... NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME...HOWEVER THERE EXISTS THE CHANCE FOR SCATTERED AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS FOR MID WEEK. .SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTERS SHOULD MONITOR CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AND BE PREPARED TO RELAY REPORTS AS NEEDED TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KAB
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 11:17 AM EST, 3 hours 58 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1217 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-060100- BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA- CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT- NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT- WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AMHERST...ATTLEBOROUGH...BARNSTABLE... BARRINGTON...BEVERLY...BOSTON...BRISTOL...BROCKTON...BROOKLINE... CAMBRIDGE...CHICOPEE...EAST HARTFORD...FALL RIVER...FALMOUTH... FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM...FRANKLIN...GLOUCESTER...GREENFIELD... HARTFORD...JAFFREY...KEENE...LAWRENCE...LEOMINSTER...LOWELL...LYNN... MANCHESTER...MANSFIELD...MILFORD...NANTUCKET...NASHUA... NEW BEDFORD...NEW BRITAIN...NEWBURYPORT...NEWINGTON...NEWPORT... NEWTON...NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH...NORTHAMPTON...PLAINFIELD...PLYMOUTH... PROVIDENCE...PUTNAM...QUINCY...SOMERVILLE...SOUTH KINGSTOWN... SPRINGFIELD...TAUNTON...VERNON...VINEYARD HAVEN...WALTHAM... WARWICK...WEST HARTFORD...WEYMOUTH...WILLIMANTIC...WINDSOR LOCKS... WOONSOCKET AND WORCESTER 1217 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 ...ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING... THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN SECTIONS INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS. HEAVY DOWNPOURS MAY PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER IN AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS WITH SPEEDS AROUND 60 MPH AND/OR LARGE HAIL. ALTHOUGH AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CANNOT BE RULED OUT ANYWHERE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON...THE RISK LOOKS TO BE GREATEST ACROSS RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE MOST LIKELY BETWEEN 1 PM AND 4 PM ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...CENTRAL AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. AFTER 3 OR 4 PM...THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE CONCENTRATED ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS MAY PERSIST UNTIL 8 OR 9 PM OVER CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS. SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS SHOULD MONITOR CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...AND BE PREPARED TO RELAY THEIR REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. PEOPLE OUTDOORS SHOULD KEEP AND EYE TO THE SKY THIS AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THE THUNDERSTORMS MAY DEVELOP VERY RAPIDLY. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES. THOMPSON
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 2:02 PM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 302 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 MAZ004-005-026-051945- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA- 302 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 AT 259 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL OVER AYER...OR ABOUT 12 MILES EAST OF LEOMINSTER...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...WESTFORD AND CARLISLE BY 320 PM EDT. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. FRANK
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 2:14 PM EST, 1 hour 1 minute before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 314 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 MAZ020-021-RIZ004>007-052030- BRISTOL RI-EASTERN KENT RI-NEWPORT RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-WASHINGTON RI- 314 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 ...LINE OF STRONG STORMS DEVELOPING JUST NORTH OF THE SOUTH COAST... AT 313 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FALL RIVER TO 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF EAST GREENWICH...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM FALL RIVER TO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WARWICK...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...NORTH KINGSTOWN AND TIVERTON BY 320 PM EDT...WESTPORT BY 330 PM EDT...PRUDENCE ISLAND BY 340 PM EDT... PORTSMOUTH AND NEW BEDFORD BY 350 PM EDT...MARION BY 400 PM EDT. FRANK
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 2:19 PM EST, 56 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 319 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 MAZ008-009-052015- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- 319 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 AT 317 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH 3 MILES EAST OF HUNTINGTON...OR ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NORTHAMPTON...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM. IF OUTDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED HIGH OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE. WHEN INDOORS...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY. TRY TO UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES BEFORE THE THUNDERSTORM APPROACHES. FRANK
Special weather statement, Aug 5, 2:49 PM EST, 26 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 349 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 MAZ005-006-014-052045- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA- 349 PM EDT FRI AUG 5 2005 AT 347 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND SMALL HAIL ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM GEORGETOWN TO 2 MILES NORTH OF WILMINGTON TO 2 MILES EAST OF ACTON...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NEWBURYPORT TO 8 MILES SOUTH OF LAWRENCE TO 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF WALTHAM...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...WILMINGTON AND CONCORD BY 400 PM EDT... TOPSFIELD AND READING BY 410 PM EDT...WOBURN AND WINCHESTER BY 420 PM EDT...WAKEFIELD AND STONEHAM BY 430 PM EDT. FRANK
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:13 UTC.
Event by event
15 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Essex
- When
- August 5, 3:25 PM EST
- Where
- Essex County, Topsfield
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.633, -70.950
Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex
- When
- August 5, 3:40 PM EST to 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Middlesex County, North Reading
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.567, -71.067
Thunderstorm Wind, Essex
- When
- August 5, 3:45 PM EST
- Where
- Essex County, Wenham
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.600, -70.883
Thunderstorm Wind, Norfolk
- When
- August 5, 3:48 PM EST
- Where
- Norfolk County, Quincy
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.267, -71.033
Thunderstorm Wind, Hampden
- When
- August 5, 3:50 PM EST
- Where
- Hampden County, Wales
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.067, -72.217
Thunderstorm Wind, Worcester
- When
- August 5, 4:05 PM EST to 4:15 PM EST
- Where
- Worcester County, Dudley
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $30,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.050, -71.933
Thunderstorm Wind, Middlesex
- When
- August 5, 4:25 PM EST
- Where
- Middlesex County, North Reading
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.567, -71.067
Thunderstorm Wind, Norfolk
- When
- August 5, 4:35 PM EST
- Where
- Norfolk County, Medway
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.133, -71.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Plymouth
- When
- August 5, 4:36 PM EST
- Where
- Plymouth County, Scituate
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $5,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.200, -70.733
Thunderstorm Wind, Worcester
- When
- August 5, 4:45 PM EST to 4:47 PM EST
- Where
- Worcester County, Milford
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Property damage
- $15,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.150, -71.517
Thunderstorm Wind, Norfolk
- When
- August 5, 4:50 PM EST
- Where
- Norfolk County, Medway
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.133, -71.400
Thunderstorm Wind, Bristol
- When
- August 5, 4:55 PM EST
- Where
- Bristol County, Mansfield
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.033, -71.217
Thunderstorm Wind, Plymouth
- When
- August 5, 5:05 PM EST to 5:25 PM EST
- Where
- Plymouth County, Whitman
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $20,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.083, -70.933
Thunderstorm Wind, Suffolk
- When
- August 5, 5:15 PM EST
- Where
- Suffolk County, Dorchester
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $8,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 42.283, -71.083
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
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Texas, August 5, 2005
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, August 5, 2005
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Georgia, August 5, 2005
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, August 5, 2005
- Flooding in Ohio, August 5, 2005
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 5, 2005
- Damaging Wind in Alabama, August 5, 2005
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, August 5, 2005
- Lightning Strike in Alabama, August 5, 2005
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, August 5, 2005
- Damaging Winds in Rhode Island, August 5, 2005
- Damaging Winds in Connecticut, August 5, 2005
More
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, August 2005
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: 5469363, 5469364, 5469365, 5469366, 5469367, 5469368, 5469369, 5469370, 5469371, 5469372, 5469373, 5469374, 5469375, 5469376, 5469377.