A cold front moved east across western New England during the early to mid afternoon hours of Sunday July 27th. The interaction of this front, and a warm, moist and unstable air mass, led to the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms across the Berkshires.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS ALY wrote it up.
A cold front moved east across western New England during the early to mid afternoon hours of Sunday July 27th. The interaction of this front, and a warm, moist and unstable air mass, led to the development of numerous showers and thunderstorms across the Berkshires.
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 Jul 27, 11:18 AM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1218 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL GRADUALLY MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND MERGE WITH A PRE FRONTAL TROUGH OVER THE LOWER AND MID HUDSON VALLEY. THESE BOUNDARIES WILL PROVIDE FOCUS FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THIS EVENING. THE MERGE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT EASTWARD AND BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS LONG ISLAND AND SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT INTO MONDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BUILD INTO THE REGION TUESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH #760 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM FOR ENTIRE FORECAST. REFER TO MESOSCALE DISCUSSIONS #1932 AND #1933 ISSUED BY THE STORM PREDUCTION CENTER FOR DETAILS. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... ON MONDAY INTO MONDAY EVENING SECONDARY TROUGH AND MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS ROTATE THROUGH FA AND WITH SEVERAL VORT MAXS ROTATING AROUND TROUGH EXPECT THAT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL OCCUR MAINLY MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO MONDAY EVENING. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD END MUCH QUICKER THAN SUNDAY EVENING BEING TIED MORE TO DAYTIME HEATING ACTING ON GOOD COLD POOL ALOFT. FINALLY A BREAK IN THE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY EXPECTED SECOND HALF OF MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. ALTHOUGH THUNDERSTORMS MAY RETURN TUESDAY NIGHT AS MODELS HINT AT A MCS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN PORTION OF FA LATE AT TUESDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP ON WED AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES FROM THE GREAT LAKES ACROSS OUR CWA...AND OFF LONG ISLAND BY THU AM. LOW PRESSURE WAVE HANGS BACK BEHIND LOW AND ONLY GRADUALLY BREAKS DOWN...TO PROVIDE CONTINUED CHC FOR PRECIP THROUGH THU...PARTICULARLY FOR DAYTIME PERIODS. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WAVE SHOULD BEGIN A BRIEF DRY PERIOD FROM LATE FRIDAY INTO EARLY SATURDAY...BUT DAYTIME HEATING COULD BRING MORE SCATTERED SHOWERS ON SATURDAY. WENT WITH HPC GUIDANCE...WITH TEMPS AVERAGING SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN THE MEX MOS. && .AVIATION /16Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... ANY LINGERING MVFR/IFR VSBYS DUE TO GROUND FOG/HAZE SHOULD IMPROVE TO VFR BY 13Z/SUN. OTHERWISE...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...UNTIL SCATTERED SHOWERS/TSTMS LOCALLY REDUCE VSBYS/CIGS INTO THE MVFR/IFR RANGE. CONDITIONS WILL THEN TREND INTO MVFR FOR VSBY IN WAKE OF TSTMS OVERNIGHT...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR IFR VSBYS/CIGS IN ANY LOCALES THAT RECEIVE APPRECIABLE RAINFALL LATER TODAY/THIS EVENING. AT THIS TIME...IT WOULD APPEAR THAT KPOU WOULD BE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO IFR POTENTIAL...SINCE SHOWERS/TSTMS WOULD OCCUR THERE LATEST...THEREFORE KEEPING THE BOUNDARY LAYER MOIST INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AS FOR SHOWERS/TSTMS...BEST CHC WILL BE AT KALB AND ESPECIALLY KPOU THIS AFTERNOON...LINGERING AT KPOU THE LONGEST...POSSIBLY UNTIL MIDNIGHT. AT KGFL...SHOWERS/TSTMS SHOULD BE MORE ISOLATED...WITH BEST CHC ONLY THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. ANY STRONGER TSTMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF STRONG WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 KT...AND HAIL...ALONG WITH FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. WINDS WILL BECOME S TO SW AT 5-10 KT TODAY...WITH STRONGER GUSTS IN/NEAR ANY TSTMS. OUTLOOK... SUN NT...VFR/MVFR...POSSIBLY SOME SCTD -SHRA/-TSRA MON...VFR/MVFR...CHC SHRA/TSRA. TUE...VFR...NO SIG WX. WED...VFR/MVFR SCT SHRA/TSRA. && .HYDROLOGY... RAIN FROM THE STORMS YESTERDAY EVENING HAVE CAUSED MINOR TO MODERATE RISES ON SEVERAL RIVERS ESPECIALLY EAST OF THE HUDSON INCLUDING THE WALLOOMSAC...BATTENKILL...AND HOOSIC. ALSO THE MOHAWK RIVER CAME UP A FOOT AND A HALF NEAR LITTLE FALLS. BETWEEN LITTLE FALLS AND THE CRESCENT DAM THE LEVEL OF THE MOHAWK WILL NOT CHANGE MUCH SINCE THE RIVER LEVEL IS RAISED FOR THE BARGE CANAL. HOWEVER THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN FLOW AND DEBRIS WASHED INTO THE RIVER MAY BE A HAZARD TO BOATS IN BOTH THE MOHAWK AND HUDSON RIVERS. HEAVY RAINS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT INTO THIS EVENING ACROSS THE REGION...ESPECIALLY SOUTH AND EAST OF ALBANY. LOCALIZED RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCH ARE POSSIBLE. SOME OF THESE AREAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 2 INCHES OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT. THE GROUND IS SATURATED IN SOME AREAS AND WHILE NO MAJOR RESPONSE IS EXPECTED ON MAIN STEM RIVERS...FLOODING OF POORLY DRAINED LOW LYING AREAS AND SOME CREEKS AND STREAMS MAY OVER FLOW THEIR BANKS WHERE STORMS TRAIN AND FOLLOW ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER OVER THE SAME AREA. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. NY...NONE. MA...NONE. VT...NONE. &&
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1204 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066- 082>084-VTZ013>015-281615- NORTHERN LITCHFIELD-SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD-NORTHERN BERKSHIRE- SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE-NORTHERN HERKIMER-HAMILTON-SOUTHERN HERKIMER- SOUTHERN FULTON-MONTGOMERY-NORTHERN SARATOGA-NORTHERN WARREN- NORTHERN WASHINGTON-SCHOHARIE-WESTERN SCHENECTADY- EASTERN SCHENECTADY-SOUTHERN SARATOGA-WESTERN ALBANY-EASTERN ALBANY- WESTERN RENSSELAER-EASTERN RENSSELAER-WESTERN GREENE-EASTERN GREENE- WESTERN COLUMBIA-EASTERN COLUMBIA-WESTERN ULSTER-EASTERN ULSTER- WESTERN DUTCHESS-EASTERN DUTCHESS-NORTHERN FULTON-SOUTHEAST WARREN- SOUTHERN WASHINGTON-BENNINGTON-WESTERN WINDHAM-EASTERN WINDHAM- 1204 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 760 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND SOUTHERN VERMONT. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT... PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. THERE IS ALSO CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1049 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 AM HAIL TROY 42.73N 73.68W
07/27/2008 E1.00 INCH RENSSELAER NY PUBLIC
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1129 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 NYZ058-059-271600- EASTERN GREENE NY-WESTERN GREENE NY- 1129 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN GREENE COUNTY... AT 1128 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...AROUND HALF INCH HAIL...AND HEAVY RAIN. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HUNTER...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 21 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... MAPLECREST...EAST JEWETT...BROOKSBURG AND TANNERSVILLE BY 1135 AM EDT EAST WINDHAM BY 1140 AM EDT DURSO CORNER AND HERVEY STREET BY 1145 AM EDT SOUTH DURHAM BY 1150 AM EDT ACRA AND SUNSIDE BY 1155 AM EDT FRUGIS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1232 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1230 PM HAIL CAIRO 42.31N 74.01W
07/27/2008 E0.88 INCH GREENE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1233 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 NYZ052>054-271700- WESTERN RENSSELAER NY-EASTERN RENSSELAER NY-EASTERN ALBANY NY- 1233 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN ALBANY COUNTY HEADING INTO RENSSELAER COUNTY... AT 1228 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING...AROUND HALF INCH HAIL...FREQUENT LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAIN. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR FEURA BUSH...OR ABOUT OVER DELMAR...AND MOVING EAST AT 17 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... ALBANY AND CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON BY 1245 PM EDT RENSSELAER AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF MENANDS BY 1255 PM EDT EAST GREENBUSH...WEST SAND LAKE...6 MILES SOUTH OF WYANTSKILL AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF WYNANTSKILL BY 100 PM EDT FRUGIS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
106 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1240 PM TSTM WND DMG LEEDS 42.26N 73.90W
07/27/2008 GREENE NY LAW ENFORCEMENT
NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES DOWN. HAIL SIZE UNKNOWN
0105 PM HAIL DELMAR 42.62N 73.83W
07/27/2008 M0.88 INCH ALBANY NY TRAINED SPOTTER
ALSO 1.3 INCHES OF RAIN IN 20 MINUTES
&&PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
116 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0105 PM HAIL GREENPORT CENTER 42.24N 73.76W
07/27/2008 E1.00 INCH COLUMBIA NY FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
NORTH END OF THE TOWN OF GREENPORT. NICKEL TO QUARTER
SIZE HAIL
&&The Albany radar (KENX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:29 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
A 40 year old male from New Jersey was struck by lightning at the Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox. He was running to seek shelter at a concert hall when he was struck. He was holding an umbrella at the time of the incident.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey Team determined that straight line winds downed approximately 50 trees near the intersection of Route 41 and Pixley Hill Road in West Stockbridge. Estimated peak winds were 75 to 85 mph.
Quarter size hail was reported on Route 8 in Becket during a thunderstorm.
Quarter size hail was reported on Route 8 in Otis during a thunderstorm. In addition, numerous trees were reported down from strong thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were reported down on Route 8 in Otis during a thunderstorm. In addition, quarter size hail was also reported during this thunderstorm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, July 2008
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: 127093, 127103, 127096, 127098, 127099.