A slow moving cold front moved through southern New England and produced a long line of showers and thunderstorms that tracked east across the area. Much of this line of storms was severe with damaging thunderstorm winds and occasional hail.
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 BOX wrote it up.
A slow moving cold front moved through southern New England and produced a long line of showers and thunderstorms that tracked east across the area. Much of this line of storms was severe with damaging thunderstorm winds and occasional hail.
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 Jul 27, 9:03 AM EST, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1003 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 .SYNOPSIS... A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WILL BRING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE AREA TODAY AND MONDAY. WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING DRY WEATHER AND SEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES TUE...ALONG WITH LOWER HUMIDITY. DRY WEATHER MAY LINGER INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT LOW PRES AND A COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY BRING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE REGION LATER WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON/... SHOWERS HAVE COME TO AN END FOR THE MOST PART. THERE ARE A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS ALONG THE SOUTH COAST. THESE SHOULD CLEAR OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. THE QUESTION THAT REMAINS IS WHETHER WE WILL GET ENOUGH SUN TO DESTABILIZE THE VERY STABLE ATMOSPHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE. IF CLOUDS REMAIN IN PLACE FOR VERY MUCH LONGER...THE ONSET OF STORMS THIS AFTERNOON WILL BE PUSHED TO LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. LATEST MESOSCALE SREF DATA FROM SPC INDICATES A VERY STABLE ATMOSPHERE. WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THESE TRENDS CLOSELY TO SEE WHEN AND WHERE STORMS MAY FIRE. HAVE UPDATED FORECAST BASED ON LATEST RADAR TRENDS. && .SHORT TERM /2 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH 6 AM MONDAY/... A FEW FEATURES WILL COMBINE TODAY TO PRODUCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS OUR REGION. THE FAVORED RIGHT REAR QUADRANT OF AN UPPER LEVEL JET WILL OVER SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON. AT THE SAME TIME...A WEAK COLD FRONT AND A MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA. WITH LIFTED INDEX DROPPING TO AROUND -5...AND SURFACE BASED CAPE LIKELY BETWEEN 1000 AND 1200 J/KG...AT LEAST A FEW OF THESE STORMS WILL HAVE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO BECOME SEVERE. THE MAIN THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. WITH SWELLS CONTINUING TO DECREASE...EXPECTING A LOW RISK OF RIP CURRENTS...THOUGH THE SOUTH FACING BEACHES MAY EXPERIENCE ISOLATED MODERATE RIP CURRENTS. A SLOW-MOVING COLD FRONT WILL PUSH ITS WAY ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TONIGHT. COULD SEE THUNDERSTORMS LINGER THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH 500 MB TEMPERATURES REMAINING BELOW -10C. EXPECTING BY MIDNIGHT THE THREAT FOR WIDESPREAD SEVERE WILL HAVE PASSED...WITH GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING INTO MONDAY MORNING. THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED THOUGH. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH PERSISTS ACROSS THE NORTHEAST THROUGH MUCH OF THE EXTENDED TIME FRAME. THIS TROUGH BRIEFLY LIFTS NORTH TUE INTO WED BEFORE DEEPENING AGAIN WED THROUGH SAT. MAIN CHALLENGE WILL BE THE TIMING AND TRACK OF EACH SHORT WAVE APPROACHING NEW ENGLAND. MONDAY...CYCLONIC FLOW CONTINUES WITH A STALLED COLD FRONT OVER THE REGION. THE FRONT WILL PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR MORE SCATTERED CONVECTION TO DEVELOP...PARTICULARLY DURING THE MORNING THROUGH THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND WHERE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS DEEPEST AND SURFACE BASED CAPES WILL BE THE HIGHEST. WILL CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE CHANCE POPS SOUTH AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 95...WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE ELSEWHERE SOUTH OF THE PIKE AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 495 TO INTERSTATE 95. TUESDAY...BRIEF RIDGING EXPECTED IN THE LONG WAVE PATTERN ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND PRIOR TO AN APPROACHING NORTHERN PLAINS SHORT WAVE. SEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES EXPECTED. WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...DID NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH RESPECT TO THIS PORTION OF THE FORECAST GIVEN UNCERTAINTY AMONGST THE LONG RANGE MODELS AS WELL AS CURRENT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WHICH NEEDED TO BE MONITORED ACROSS THE REGION. NEXT SHORT WAVE IS EXPECTED TO APPROACH FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS STATES AND THERE ARE SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES. OVERALL RELIED ON A BLEND OF HPC...GFS MOS AND PREVIOUS OFFICIAL FORECAST GRIDS. THIS BRINGS CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LATE WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH A BRIEF RESPITE POSSIBLE BY SATURDAY. CONFIDENCE NOT HIGH REGARDING THE DETAILS AT THIS TIME. && .AVIATION /14Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SUNDAY...VFR TO START ACROSS MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. SCATTERED MVFR IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING. VFR CONDITIONS DECREASING DECREASING TO MVFR FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON AS MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. SOME LOCATIONS MAY DROP TO IFR CONDITIONS IN THESE STORMS. TONIGHT...MVFR CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO VFR OVERNIGHT...EXCEPT PERHAPS THE EASTERNMOST TERMINALS WHERE SHOWERS MAY CONTINUE FOR A FEW HOURS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE BACK TO VFR BY DAYBREAK MONDAY. OUTLOOK...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... MONDAY...VFR WITH ISOLATED MVFR IN SCATTERED TSTMS. TUESDAY...VFR. WED...VFR TO START WITH MVFR POSSIBLE LATE IN THE DAY...ESPECIALLY WED NIGHT. THU...MVFR LIKELY WITH A LOW RISK OF IFR CONDITIONS IN WIDESPREAD SHOWERS. && .MARINE... LIGHT WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODAY...AND WILL PREVENT SEAS FROM BUILDING BACK TO ABOVE 5 FEET. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MAY REACH THE COASTAL WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OTHERWISE FAIRLY QUIET OUT ON THE WATERS THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. OUTLOOK...MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... MONDAY...WIND AND WAVES NOT AN ISSUE. SCATTERED TSTMS MAIN CONCERN. TUESDAY...FINE BOATING WEATHER WITH COLD FRONT WELL OFFSHORE. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...LOW PRES AND A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE WATERS. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. MA...NONE. NH...NONE. RI...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && SYNOPSIS...STRAUSS NEAR TERM...RLG SHORT TERM...BELK LONG TERM...STRAUSS AVIATION...BELK/STRAUSS MARINE...BELK/STRAUSS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 532 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-280945- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 532 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THIS MORNING AND AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY...MAINLY SE NEW ENGLAND. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ANZ230>237-250-254-255-280945- BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND- BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS FROM MERRIMACK RIVER MA OUT 25 NM TO PLYMOUTH MA OUT 40 NM...INCLUDING THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO BLOCK ISLAND RI TO MARTHAS VINEYARD MA TO NANTUCKET MA SOUTHEAST TO 20 NM- 532 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY THIS MORNING AND AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THE EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH STRONG WINDS AND HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MONDAY. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
744 AM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0340 AM HAIL SPRINGFIELD 42.12N 72.54W
07/27/2008 E0.75 INCH HAMPDEN MA AMATEUR RADIO
0341 AM LIGHTNING HOLYOKE 42.21N 72.64W
07/27/2008 HAMPDEN MA AMATEUR RADIO
HOUSE FIRE FROM LIGHTNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CABOT
AND APPLETON.
0348 AM LIGHTNING GRANBY 41.95N 72.78W
07/27/2008 HARTFORD CT AMATEUR RADIO
HOUSE FIRE DUE TO LIGHTNING.
&&
RLGSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1248 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 RIZ006-271715- WASHINGTON RI- 1248 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 AT 1248 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL 2 MILES NORTHWEST OF WESTERLY...OR ABOUT 7 MILES EAST OF MYSTIC...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 19 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...HOPKINTON BY 100 PM EDT...RICHMOND AND 6 MILES WEST OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN BY 120 PM EDT. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE MINOR STREET FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. THIS STORM IS PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. GET INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. AVOID OPEN AREAS SUCH AS GOLF COURSES OR BALL FIELDS. NOCERA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1253 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 MAZ002-003-008-271730- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- 1253 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 AT 1253 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL OVER PLAINFIELD...OR ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NORTH ADAMS...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 17 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...HAWLEY BY 100 PM EDT...CHARLEMONT BY 110 PM EDT...BUCKLAND BY 120 PM EDT...HEATH AND COLRAIN BY 130 PM EDT. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE MINOR STREET FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. THIS STORM IS PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. GET INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. AVOID OPEN AREAS SUCH AS GOLF COURSES OR BALL FIELDS. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT SUNDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. NOCERA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 118 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 RIZ006-271745- WASHINGTON RI- 118 PM EDT SUN JUL 27 2008 AT 118 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WITH THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO 40 MPH AND SMALL HAIL OVER WESTERLY...OR ABOUT 8 MILES EAST OF MYSTIC... MOVING EAST AT 27 MPH. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...CHARLESTOWN BY 130 PM EDT...SOUTH KINGSTOWN BY 140 PM EDT...NARRAGANSETT AND 6 MILES SOUTH OF KINGSTON BY 150 PM EDT. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE MINOR STREET FLOODING AND PONDING OF WATER IN LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED AREAS. THIS STORM IS PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. GET INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...STAY AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. AVOID OPEN AREAS SUCH AS GOLF COURSES OR BALL FIELDS. NOCERA
The Boston radar (KBOX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:38 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees and wires on Doug Country Trail, Pine Hill, and Woodbine Roads and High Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
Trees on Pine Hill Road were struck by lightning and landed on a house.
Heavy rain fell flooding several streets in Narragansett. One of the streets flooded was Woodruff Avenue where a car got stuck with water up to its doors.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Rhode Island in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Rhode Island, 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: 127484, 127485, 127486.