Storm Surge and High Wind in Massachusetts, May 24 to 25, 2005

Name: Storm Surge and High Wind in Massachusetts, May 24 to 25, 2005
Start: 2005-05-24T14:50
End: 2005-05-25T23:53
Location: Massachusetts

May 24 to 25, 2005 · NWS BOX · 25 events in 12 counties and zones

An unusually usual late season and long duration nor'easter brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to eastern Massachusetts. Although most wind gusts were reported between 45 and 55 mph, some gusts estimated as high as 60 mph brought down trees and power lines over a large area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 25 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: $360,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 25

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.

An unusually usual late season and long duration nor'easter brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding to eastern Massachusetts. A preliminary check suggested this was the worst late May winterlike nor'easter since May 25-26, 1967.Although most wind gusts were reported between 45 and 55 mph, some gusts estimated as high as 60 mph brought down trees and power lines over a large area. At least 20,000 electric customers lost service at various times during this storm. As a consequence of saturated ground and trees with foliage, the impact of the wind was greater than what would normally be expected by these wind speeds. Moderate coastal flooding occurred during two high tide cycles. Numerous shore roads along the eastern Massachusetts coast were flooded to the extent of being impassible for a time. Considerable rock and sand debris were washed onto shore roads, and there were spotty reports of damage to structures.No injuries were directly related to the storm.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 high wind, 7 storm surge/tide. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Northern Worcester

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Northern Worcester forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Essex

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Middlesex

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Bristol

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Essex

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Western Essex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Middlesex

When: May 24, 2:50 PM EST to May 25, 7:57 AM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Eastern Essex

When: May 24, 11:11 PM EST to May 25, 12:03 AM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 24, 11:11 PM EST to May 25, 12:03 AM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Eastern Norfolk

When: May 24, 11:11 PM EST to May 25, 12:03 AM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 24, 11:11 PM EST to May 25, 12:03 AM EST
Where: Eastern Plymouth / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.079, -70.960 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Essex

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Barnstable

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southeast Middlesex

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Southeast Middlesex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Bristol

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Western Plymouth

When: May 25, 6:45 PM EST to 11:35 PM EST
Where: Western Plymouth forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Eastern Essex

When: May 25, 10:29 PM EST to 11:53 PM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk

When: May 25, 10:29 PM EST to 11:53 PM EST
Where: Suffolk / Also Part of Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 42.264, -71.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm Surge/Tide, Eastern Norfolk

When: May 25, 10:29 PM EST to 11:53 PM EST
Where: Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Storm Surge/Tide: Water pushed ashore above the normal tide by a storm’s winds and low pressure.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2005 Every state in 2005 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, May 2005 The 2005 hurricane season

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5454325, 5454326, 5454327, 5454328, 5454329, 5454330, 5454331, 5454332, 5454333, 5454334, 5454335, 5454336, 5454337, 5454338, 5454339, 5454340, 5454341, 5454342, 5454343, 5454344, 5454345, 5454346, 5454347, 5454348, 5454611.