High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, October 7, 2009

Name: High Wind and Strong Wind in Massachusetts, October 7, 2009
Start: 2009-10-07T08:07
End: 2009-10-07T16:54
Location: Massachusetts

October 7, 2009 · NWS BOX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A cold front moved through Southern New England resulting in showers and gusty westerly winds. In a few locations these winds reached high wind criteria (40 mph sustained or 58 mph gusts).

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: $78,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 cold front moved through Southern New England resulting in showers and gusty westerly winds. In a few locations these winds reached high wind criteria (40 mph sustained or 58 mph gusts).

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 6, 3:16 PM EST, 16 hours 51 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 6, 3:16 PM EST, 16 hours 51 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 6, 3:31 PM EST, 16 hours 36 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 high wind, 2 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Southern Bristol

When: October 7, 8:07 AM EST to 4:12 PM EST
Where: Southern Bristol forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing Station at New Bedford Regional Airport (KEWB) recorded a wind gust of 47 mph. Based on damage reports in the area, occasional gusts to 58 mph are believed to have occurred throughout coastal Bristol County. Some of these reports include: large branches and trees down in Fairhaven, Westport, Somerset, New Bedford, and Fall River.

High Wind, Northern Bristol

When: October 7, 10:45 AM EST to 4:34 PM EST
Where: Northern Bristol forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 41.757, -71.088 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees throughout Taunton, Mansfield, and Raynham were downed by strong winds behind a cold front. In addition, a telephone pole on Randall Street in Easton was snapped in half.

Strong Wind, Western Middlesex

When: October 7, 12:25 PM EST to 4:19 PM EST
Where: Western Middlesex forecast zone
Measured: 42 kt (48 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.486, -71.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA (KBED) recorded sustained wind speeds of 37 mph and gusts to 48 mph. Reports of damage include: tree limbs down in Marlboro and a tree that fell on a house in Ashland.

High Wind, Western Essex

When: October 7, 1:36 PM EST to 3:04 PM EST
Where: Western Essex forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Lawrence Municipal Airport (KLWM)recorded a sustained wind speed of 36 mph with gusts to 49 mph. Based on damage reports in the area, occasional gusts to 58 mph are believed to have occurred throughout interior Essex County. Some of these reports include: a tree eighteen inches in diameter was downed in Topsfield blocking the intersection of Prospect Street and River Road. In Haverhill, a tree and wires were downed onto a car.

Strong Wind, Southern Worcester

When: October 7, 1:51 PM EST to 4:54 PM EST
Where: Southern Worcester forecast zone
Measured: 41 kt (47 mph) measured gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Amateur Radio
Coordinates: 42.351, -71.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Automated Surface Observing System at Worcester Regional Airport (KORH) recorded sustained wind speeds of 35 mph and gusts to 47 mph. A tree was blown down in Southboro, blocking Route 9 West and Interstate 495.

High Wind, Eastern Norfolk

When: October 7, 3:06 PM EST to 4:04 PM 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)

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center in Milton, MA (KMQE) recorded a sustained wind speed of 39 mph with gusts to 53 mph. Based on damage reports in the area, occasional gusts to 58 mph are believed to have occurred throughout eastern Norfolk County. Some of these reports include: trees down in Hingham.

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Massachusetts, October 2009

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 196229, 196231, 196232, 196228, 196233, 196230.