Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Massachusetts, August 28, 2011

Tree limbs were downed onto Depot Street in Mattapoisett. Trees were downed onto houses on Ryder Lane and Point Road in Marion, resulting in structural damage. The steeple was blown off a church on Highland Avenue in Onset.

Trees, branches, and wires were downed on South, Union, Conant, and Hale Streets in Bridgewater. One of these trees was downed onto a house. A tree and wires were downed on Forest Park Drive in Lakeville. Numerous trees were downed in Middleboro. A large tree was downed at the intersection of Routes 58 and 123 in Abington.

A storm surge of 3.84 feet, associated with Tropical Storm Irene, impacted the coastal areas of southern Bristol County. This closed East Beach Road in Westport. The road was flooded in the area of Gooseberry Neck and the causeway. Padanaram Bridge (Gulf Road) was closed in Dartmouth. Sconticut Neck Road in Fairhaven was flooded.

Numerous trees and branches were downed throughout southern Bristol County, including in Dartmouth (Smith Neck and Slocum Roads and Colonial Way), Fall River (Concord and South Main Streets), Acushnet (Chershire Street and Nye Avenue), and Freetown (Chace Road). Some of these trees fell onto houses. The aluminum siding was blown off a building onto the Fairhaven-New Bedford Bridge. A telephone pole was downed on Schooner Court in New Bedford. The Olympia Towers apartment building in New Bedford suffered some structural damage. A tree was downed in Swansea, falling through a house. Shingles were blown off a roof on Mandell Street in New Bedford.

The Automated Surface Observing System at New Bedford Regional Airport (KEWB) recorded sustained wind speeds of 35 knots (40 mph) and gusts to 50 knots (58 mph). An amateur radio operator in Fairhaven recorded sustained winds of 43 knots (50 mph) and a gust of 63 knots (72 mph) on their home weather station. Another amateur radio operator in Fall River recorded a gust to 55 knots (63 mph) on their home weather station.

A storm surge of 3.01 feet, associated with Tropical Storm Irene, impacted the coastal areas of southern Plymouth County. Houses in the Dexter Beach area experienced minor flooding.

Numerous trees and branches were downed in Northbridge and Northborough. Trees and wires were downed, closing several streets in Southborough. A tree was downed onto wires on West Street in Auburn. A tree was downed onto a house on Harding Street in Milford.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Worcester Regional Airport (KORH) recorded sustained wind speeds of 33 knots (38 mph) and gusts to 45 knots (52 mph). An amateur radio operator recorded a gust to 52 knots (60 mph) on their home weather station in Worcester. A trained spotter recorded sustained wind speeds of 27 knots (31 mph) on their home weather station in Milford.

Several trees were downed in Falmouth (on Ludlam and Prospect Streets) and Wellfleet (on Cove Road). Large branches were downed on Long Pond Road in Barnstable.

The Automated Weather Observing System at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod in Falmouth, MA (KFMH) recorded sustained wind speeds up to 42 knots (48 mph) with gusts to 55 knots (63 mph). The Automated Surface Observation System at Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, MA (KHYA) recorded sustained wind speeds up to 38 knots (44 mph) with gusts to 57 knots (66 mph). These were the highest sustained winds on land in Southern New England. The Automated Weather Observing System at Provincetown Airport (KPVC) recorded sustained wind speeds up to 30 knots (35 mph) and gusts to 42 knots (48 mph). The Automated Surface Observation System at Chatham Municipal Airport (KCQX) recorded sustained wind speeds up to 29 knots (33 mph) and gusts to 52 knots (60 mph). These two points were points on land furthest from the eye of the storm. In addition, spotters reported sustained winds up to 53 mph and gusts to 69 mph with the storm. However, the systems at Barnstable Municipal Airport (KHYA) and Chatham Municipal Airport (KCQX) went down at 12:21pm EST and 7:39pm EST, respectively, and no further observations were recorded during Irene.

A storm surge of 3.01 feet, associated with Tropical Storm Irene, impacted coastal Barnstable County. Surf Drive in Falmouth was flooded.

Numerous trees were downed throughout eastern Essex county, including in Danvers (Maple Street), Peabody (Martinack and Roosevelt Avenues and Crowninshield and Winona Streets), Salem (Boston and North Streets), Lynn (Jackson, West Sigourney, and Empire Streets, Greenwood Avenue, Lynn Common, and Bonavesta Terrace), Marblehead (Lafayette Street), Ipswich (Linebrook Road), and Nahant (Little Nahant Road).

Some of these trees were downed onto houses, others onto power lines and wires, and still others onto cars. In addition, traffic lights on North Street in Salem were downed by strong winds.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Beverly Municipal Airport (KBVY) recorded sustained wind speeds of 29 knots (33 mph) and gusts to 43 knots (49 mph). An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 50 knots (58 mph) on their home weather station in Rockport.

Large limbs and trees were downed in Ludlow, Springfield (Oak Street), West Springfield (Westfield and Althea Streets), Longmeadow, Palmer (Boston Road). One tree in Longmeadow was downed onto a house on Meadowlark Drive.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Barnes Municipal Airport recorded sustained wind speeds of 23 knots (26 mph) and gusts to 35 knots (39 mph). The Automated Weather Observing System at Westover Air Reserve Base (KCEF) recorded sustained wind speeds of 25 knots (29 mph) and gusts to 37 knots (43 mph).

Trees were downed across Taunton, including on Harrison Avenue, Ingell, Staples, Liberty and Pleasant Streets. One of these trees crushed a car. Many trees and wires downed across Attleboro, including on Dewey and Jessie Avenues, Thacher, Pearl, South Main, County, and Jackson Streets. One of these trees was downed onto a house. Wires and poles were down on North Main Street in Attleboro. Multiple trees were downed in North Attleboro, including trees that were downed onto cars on High Street, James Street, and Kelley Boulevard. Several trees were downed on Plain and Ware Streets in Mansfield. Trees on Broadway and Locust Street in Raynham were downed. Trees and wires on Berkley Street in Berkley were downed. In Norton, twelve roads were closed due to downed trees.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Taunton Municipal Airport (KTAN) recorded sustained wind speeds of 28 knots (32 mph) and gusts to 50 knots (58 mph).

Two trees were downed onto a house in West Roxbury. Numerous trees, branches, and wires were downed in Boston, including on Sierra Road, Centre, Corey, West Belden, Beacon, Arlington, Washington, and Faraday Streets, and Oak Place. At least one of these trees was downed onto a house, resulting in damage. An awning was blown off a building on West Street. A light pole was downed onto a truck in Boston. A wall collapsed at a building on Marginal Street in Chelsea. This wall took down the main structural beams and the building was subsequently condemned and demolished. A tree was downed in Roslindale, near the Needham line.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Logan International Airport (KBOS) in Boston, MA recorded sustained wind speeds of 40 knots (46 mph) and gusts to 55 knots (63 mph). An amateur radio operator recorded wind gusts to 51 knots (59 mph) on their home weather station in Winthrop.

Trees in Warwick (Sheperdson Road), Gill (Main Road), Shutesbury, and Deerfield (River Road) were downed onto wires. In Shutesbury, a tree was downed onto a house on Shore Drive. A tree on Mill Village Road was downed onto a house in Deerfield.

The Automated Surface Observing Station at Orange Municipal Airport (KORE) recorded sustained wind speeds of 24 knots (28 mph) and gusts to 37 knots (43 mph).

Trees, branches, and wires were downed on Weymouth Street and Evelyn Road in Holbrook. A tree was downed, falling through a house on Spring Street, resulting in significant damage. Trees and wires were downed on Worcester and Walnut Streets in Wellesley. Numerous trees were downed in Dover, closing six roads. Also, two trees landed on two houses. In Dedham, a tree was uprooted at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Village Avenue. Utility poles were downed on Holliston Street in Medway. Trees and wires were downed on Lakeview Road, South Cross and Main Streets in Foxborough. Large trees and limbs were downed on Pond Avenue, Cleveland Road, and Cypress and Harvard Streets in Brookline. An eight inch diameter tree limb was downed on Marthas Way in Franklin. A large tree was downed onto a house on Jeffrey Road in Canton. Multiple trees were downed in Stoughton, many onto houses.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Norwood Memorial Airport (KOWD) recorded sustained wind speeds of 25 knots (29 mph) and gusts to 57 knots (66 mph). An amateur radio operator recorded wind gusts of 56 knots (65 mph) on their home weather station in Wrentham. Another amateur radio operator recorded sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph) and wind gusts of 52 knots (60 mph) on their home weather station in Randolph. A third amateur radio operator recorded wind gusts of 50 knots (58 mph) on their home weather station in Brookline.

Multiple trees and wires were downed in Northampton, including on North Maple and King Streets, Woodlawn Avenue. A large tree was downed in Amherst. Numerous trees and wires were downed in Belchertown, including at the intersection of Daniel Shays Highway and Old Pelham Road, on Bay Road, and one downed onto the railroad tracks near Lake Drive. Trees were downed in Ware on River, Old Poor Farm, and Shady Hill Roads, and North Church Street.

Numerous trees were downed in Concord, two of these were downed onto houses. Trees were downed onto houses on Brook Street in Framingham and on Cushing Drive in Wilmington. Numerous trees were downed throughout Bedford, including on Blocking Springs, Burlington, Wilson, and South Roads, Wiggins and School Avenues, Ruben Duren Way, and Washington and Otis Streets. Several of these trees were downed onto houses. A tree was downed onto a house on Revere Road in Lexington. A large tree was downed, blocking four lanes of traffic on Route 28 in North Reading. Two utility poles were downed on Hartwell Road in Bedford. A tree was downed at the FEMA Regional Operations Center in Maynard.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Hanscom Field in Bedford, MA (KBED) recorded sustained wind speeds of 29 knots (33 mph) and gusts to 44 knots (51 mph).

Trees and wires on Glenwood Street in Amesbury were downed. The Automated Surface Observing System at Lawrence Municipal Airport (KLWM) recorded sustained wind speeds of 24 knots (28 mph) and gusts to 40 knots (46 mph). However, the system went down shortly after the observation at 9:54am EST and did not return until 2:54pm EST.

After receiving roughly four and a half inches of rain from Tropical Storm Irene, an overtopped dike resulted in the closure of West Street in Northampton. At exit 24 on Route 5, there was five to six feet of water flooding the road, with two cars floating down the road.

After receiving nearly ten inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, local brooks flowed over North Poland Road in Conway.

Several trees were downed in Athol. Route 32 in Royalston was closed with two power poles downed at Stewart and Warwick Roads. A tree on Route 140 in Sterling was downed.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Fitchburg Municipal Airport (KFIT) recorded sustained wind speeds of 29 knots (33 mph) and gusts to 40 knots (46 mph).

A storm surge of 1.76 feet, associated with Tropical Storm Irene, impacted the coastal areas of Suffolk County. This resulted in flooding of Morrissey Boulevard and Freeport Street near the University of Massachusetts - Boston campus.

After receiving eight to ten inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, houses were flooded on Ashfield and River Roads in Buckland. Ashfield Road was flooded with rapidly moving water. Route 112 from Ashfield to Buckland was closed due to flooding. Numerous roads in the area were washed out.

Trees and wires were downed in Malden, including on Maple, Williams, Dartmouth, and Lawrence Streets. Several were downed onto houses. Large trees on Evelyn Road and Washington and Foster Streets in Newton were downed. Several telephone poles on Grove Street in Newton were downed. Trees in Cambridge were downed near Volpe Center in Kendall Square. Three trees on Spring Street in Lexington were downed. Numerous trees were downed in Waltham, including on Lexington and Crescent Streets. One of these trees was downed onto a house. A tree was downed on Hill Street in Watertown. Trees in Woburn were downed.

After receiving roughly four inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, Walker Brook overflowed its banks, flooding Route 20 in Chester.

After receiving two to three inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Washington Street was impassable due to flooding in Newton. A car was stuck in flood waters on Commonwealth Avenue.

Multiple trees in Milton were downed, several into houses. A large tree in Weymouth was downed onto two trucks.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center in Milton, MA recorded sustained wind speeds of 41 knots (47 mph) and gusts to 70 knots (81 mph).

After receiving two to three inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, the Route 9 ramp onto Route 28 was impassable due to flooding in Wellesley.

Large trees were downed in Hingham.

The Automated Surface Observing System at Plymouth Municipal Airport (KPYM) recorded sustained wind speeds of 29 knots (33 mph) and gusts to 47 knots (54 mph). However, the system went down at 10:32am EST and was out for the remainder of the day. An amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 52 knots (60 mph) on their home weather station in Plymouth. Another amateur radio operator recorded a wind gust of 54 knots (62 mph) on their home weather station in Plymouth (Pine Hills - elevation 200 feet). Amateur radio operators in Hingham and Scituate recorded wind gusts to 49 knots (56 mph).

After receiving roughly four and a half inches of rain with Tropical Storm Irene, the Mill River flooded, closing the following roads: Meadow Street, Spring Street, and Reservoir Road.

A storm surge between 1.71 and 3.01 feet, associated with Tropical Storm Irene, impacted Barnstable County. The Bass River overflowed its banks in Yarmouth. This river is tidal.

Several trees were downed across Nantucket. The Automated Surface Observing System at Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK) recorded sustained wind speeds of 42 knots (48 mph) and gusts to 55 knots (63 mph).

After receiving nearly four inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, portions of Route 20 in Brimfield and Wilbraham were closed due to flooding.

Numerous trees were downed on Martha's Vineyard. The Automated Surface Observing System at Vineyard Haven (KMVY) recorded sustained wind speeds of 39 knots (45 mph) and gusts to 54 knots (62 mph).

After receiving nearly nine inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, the Deerfield River flooded, inundating the town of Shelburne.

After receiving six to eight inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, the Deerfield River flooded, closing portions of Route 2 in Charlemont.

After receiving seven to eight inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, the Westfield River flooded, closing Route 20 at Route 23.

After receiving eight to ten inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, major flooding occurred to portions of northwest Massachusetts, from Greenfield northwest through Colrain, Leyden, and vicinity. There were evacuations- exact amount unknown- and there were homes that were condemned. A house on West Leyden Road was reported to have been washed away in Leyden on the Green River. Multiple major routes/highways were affected in western Massachusetts, including Route 2, I-91, Route 20, Route 5, and Route 112 as well as numerous smaller roads. A flood survey along the Deerfield River indicated that in between Routes 5 and I-91, a large swath of farmland was inundated, and many homes within that stretch experienced various degrees of flooding. The Mohawk Meadow Country Club at the junction of the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers was submerged. A covered bridge on Eunice Williams Drive over the Green River sustained severe damage and was no longer attached to its abutments. In Greenfield, the Arbors Assisted Living facility on Meridian Street was evacuated due to flooding.

The Deerfield River at West Deerfield set a new flood of record at 23.8 feet, the previous record was 17.71 feet set in April of 1987. The North River at Shattuckville set a new flood of record at 17.66 feet, the previous record was 12.32 feet set in October of 2005. In addition the Connecticut River at Montague crested at its highest level since the 1938 hurricane.

After receiving five to six inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, Granville Road in Westfield washed out. Route 202 and Union Street were closed due to flooding from the Westfield River. Houses on Ellsworth Street were evacuated due to the flooding on the Westfield River.

After receiving three to eight inches of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene, flooding occurred along River Road in South Hadley, closing the road.

Tropical Storm Irene resulted in a 1.76 foot storm surge at Boston. A sailboat ran aground on Kings Beach in Marblehead. Six boats were washed up onshore along Lynn Shore Drive in Lynn.

After receiving seven to eight inches of rain associated with Tropical Storm Irene, River Road in Monroe was washed out along 75 to 85 feet to 50 to 75 feet deep.

After receiving six to eight inches of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene, Sodom Brook in Westhampton overflowed its banks. This flooded South Road, making it impassable.

After receiving three to eight inches of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Irene, flooding resulted in the closure of Route 20 in West Springfield at Sibley Avenue.