High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, October 28, 2008

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, October 28, 2008
Start: 2008-10-28T16:17
End: 2008-10-28T21:38
Location: Massachusetts

October 28, 2008 · NWS BOX · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

A strong low pressure tracked north of southern New England resulting in strong winds affecting portions of southern New England.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: $6,000
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 BOX wrote it up.

A strong low pressure tracked north of southern New England resulting in strong winds affecting portions of southern New England.

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 Oct 27, 5:51 PM EST, 22 hours 26 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 27, 5:51 PM EST, 22 hours 26 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Eastern Essex

When: October 28, 4:17 PM EST to 8:07 PM EST
Where: Eastern Essex forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 46 mph on their home weather station in Marblehead. A tree on Beach Street and a tree on Tedesco Street in Marblehead were downed by strong winds onto wires. In Danvers, a tree on Locust Street was downed.

High Wind, Nantucket

When: October 28, 4:30 PM EST to 6:40 PM EST
Where: Nantucket forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 41.270, -70.022 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several wind gusts were measured on the island of Nantucket. Two gusts were recorded by amateur radio operators on their home weather stations of 63 and 66 mph. The Automated Surface Observing Station at Nantucket Memorial Airport recorded a wind gust of 54 mph.

Strong Wind, Barnstable

When: October 28, 6:15 PM EST to 8:55 PM EST
Where: Barnstable forecast zone
Measured: 44 kt (51 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $500
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 41.684, -70.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several Automated Surface Observing Stations across Barnstable County recorded wind gusts between 45 and 51 mph. In Yarmouth, a tree was downed on Route 6A and Railroad Avenue. Sustained winds at the same ASOS stations were between 31 and 37 mph.

Strong Wind, Southern Plymouth

When: October 28, 7:30 PM EST to 9:37 PM EST
Where: Southern Plymouth forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 41.987, -70.737 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 47 mph on their home weather station in Marion. In Wareham, trees were downed on wires in two locations and in a third, wires were downed onto a car.

Strong Wind, Western Hampden

When: October 28, 8:36 PM EST to 9:38 PM EST
Where: Western Hampden forecast zone
Measured: 43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.135, -72.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A handful of trees were downed in Montgomery.

What these are

Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, October 2008

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: 138392, 138390, 138393, 138394, 138395.