A warm and unstable air mass was in place over western Massachusetts ahead of an advancing cold front on Monday, July 18th. Short lines of thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon hours and moved eastward across the region.
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 warm and unstable air mass was in place over western Massachusetts ahead of an advancing cold front on Monday, July 18th. Short lines of thunderstorms developed during the early afternoon hours and moved eastward across the region.
Some of these thunderstorms became severe, producing damaging wind gusts to trees and power lines. The most significant damage occurred in the town of Cheshire, where power was knocked out to around 1300 customers. Most of the power outages were restored by the evening hours.
Thunderstorms ended with the passage of the cold front during the evening hours.
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 18, 11:46 AM EST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Albany NY 1246 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Some strong to severe thunderstorms are possible today ahead of a cold front. Cooler and less humid conditions are expected Tuesday...which will last into the mid week with high pressure in control. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... ...Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect for the entire region until 8 PM... 1230 PM Mesoscale discussion...convection rapidly developing across upstate New York as daytime heating (even through the opaque cirrus) and the approach of the speed max as seen in the H2O vapor loop are resulting in fast moving cells. SBCAPES per LAPS/SPC are in excess of 1000 J/KG and likely to climb further (POU was at 91 degrees with a dewpoint of 66 as of Noon). So main update was to reflect the watch up to 00Z and a refresh on hourly values. As of 1053 Am...Current radar loop shows Albany Forecast area is echo free. We continue to watch storms in western New York which will move east and impact our area mainly this afternoon. Still looks like an active severe weather day. Quite an impressive upper level jet max of 110 knots on BUF 12Z sounding. ALY forecast are will come under right entrance region of this jet max later today. Also, some isolated cells will likely develop ahead of the main cluster of storms to our west over mid Hudson Valley and western MA/CT as atmosphere heats up from sunshine. Minor adjustments to Clouds/POPs/WX based on current weather and latest HRRR run. Previous... There is a severe weather potential today...as the forecast area becomes increasingly more warm...humid...and unstable. Sfc dewpts should increase well into the 60's in the warm sector with the deep 0-6 km bulk shear increasing to 35-45+ kts north of the I-90 corridor in the late morning into the early pm...and then expanding south across southern NY including the mid-Hudson Valley and NW CT. The NAM and GFS are a bit out of sync on how much cooling occurs aloft in terms of the mid-level lapse rates. The GFS has good/favorable lapse rates in the 700-500 hpa and 850-500 hPa layers of 6.5-7+C/km...while the NAM is more in the 6-6.5C/km range which will make a difference in the mode and strength of convection /for example what happened THU of last week/. The SBCAPEs are generally in the 1000-2000 J/kg with slightly higher pockets today. The better chance of any discrete supercells looks to be in the mid afternoon where more heating might occur and when the deep shear start to increase to 35-40 kts there. The shear aligns quickly in the 850-500 hPa layer favoring linear clusters with damaging winds the main threat. If more instability is realized...then some hail is possible. The low- level jet is not overly impressive...though with any line or perhaps QLCS segments...an isolated weak spin-up tornado is possible. The bottom line is bowing segments...and damaging winds of 50 kts or greater is likely the main threat with hail the size of quarters or greater the secondary threat if taller updrafts are realized. The other complicating factor is that the convection may fire very quickly north and west of the Capital Region and the I-90 corridor. The HRRR and the NCEP 4-km WRF-NMM for SPC composite reflectivity runs have the showers and thunderstorms firing quickly north and west of the Capital District between 15Z-17Z /11 am-1 pm/. The cluster of convection quickly moves over the rest of the fcst area between 17Z-20Z /1-4 pm/. Another line may form ahead of the cold front for the mid to late afternoon ahead of the main cold front...if the atmosphere can destabilize again. It does look like a strong line could impact the Capital Region...Berkshires...and eastern Catskills south if the NCEP WRF is right. Overall...mentioned some storms maybe severe in the grids which is in agreement with the latest SPC Day 1 Slight Risk. Localized heavy rainfall is possible with any convection as PWATS rise to 1.25-1.75 inches...but the storms should be moving along pretty well due to the stronger mid and upper level flow aloft. Highs will range from the mid 80s to near 90F in the major river Valleys...and mid 70s to lower 80s over the higher terrain. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... Tonight...the cold front will still be making steady progress across central and eastern NY in the late afternoon into the early evening. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will still be possible and we included that some may be severe wording in the forecast grids until 8 pm. The right entrance region of a strong upper level jet streak will be moving over southern NY and southwest New England by 00Z/TUE. The guidance really shrivels the showers and thunderstorm activity towards midnight...as drier air filters in. The winds will shift to the west to northwest at 5 to 15 mph...as the strong low level cold advection moves in. Lows will be in the mid to upper 50s outside the Capital District...mid Hudson Valley...southern Taconics...and NW CT where 60-65F readings are likely. Tuesday...In the broad cyclonic flow aloft...the upper level trough axis will need to clear the fcst area. Some instability cumulus will be possible with the cold pool passing north of the region. The best chance of an isolated showers will be near the Lake George Region...and southern VT. Highs will be in the mid 70s to lower 80s in the valley areas...and mid 60s to lower 70s over the mountains. Humidity levels will be much more comfortable with dewpts falling into the 40s to lower 50s. Tue night...High pressure builds in from the eastern Great Lakes Region over NY and New England with clear skies...and light to calm winds. An ideal radiational cooling night with lows falling into 50s with some mid and upper 40s over the Adirondacks...and Catskills. Wed-Wed night...The fair and dry weather continues with the sfc anticyclone in control during the day...and the mid level heights start to increase at night...as the high drifts south and east of the region. Temps will be seasonable for late July with pleasant humidity levels continuing. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... Heat and humid build as we head into the weekend with oppressive conditions expected to develop. At this time, the hottest day is expected to be Saturday. Guidance is in general agreement the CONUS should be dominated by ridging centered over the Southern Plains for the latter part of the week with the ridge weakening and shifting westward toward California over the weekend. Across the Northeast short wave troughs will move across the region. There are some differences with the timing of the individual pieces of energy though which is typical for this time frame. The heat is expected to expand eastward with 850 mb temperatures climbing through the teens and reaching into the low 20s through the period. Here is the range of forecast highs across the forecast area each day: Thursday upper 70s to upper 80s; Friday lower 80s to lower 90s; Saturday lower 80s to mid 90s and Sunday upper 70s to lower 90s. In addition to the heat, humidity levels will also climb. Initially dew points are expected to start out at comfortable levels Thursday morning mainly in the 50s. However, values are expected to rise into mid to upper 60s for the weekend. The combination of the heat and humidity will lead to extremely dangerous heat conditions. Heat indices are forecast to be in the mid/upper 90s with around 100 possible in the mid Hudson Valley Saturday based on the current forecast. Have included mention in our Hazardous Weather Outlook. The nights will be very muggy. As for chances for showers and thunderstorms have them in the forecast for mainly Friday through Sunday. There will be a break in the convection between short wave trough and based on the latest guidance expect this to occur Saturday in the morning. && .AVIATION /15Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Showers and thunderstorms will overspread the area this afternoon between 18Z and 00Z. Ceilings and visibilities may drop to MVFR and possibly IFR in showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening. A cold front will move through the region around midnight. After the front passes ceilings and visibilities will be VFR. Have included fog for Pittsfield after 1AM. Winds will be out of the south/southwest 10 to 15 knots with gusts to 25kts across the area. Expect higher gusts in thunderstorms. After the cold front moves through, winds will be out of the northwest 5 to 10 knots and diminishing. Outlook... Tuesday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Wednesday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Wednesday Night: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Thursday: No Operational Impact. NO SIG WX. Thursday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Friday: Moderate Operational Impact. Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Friday Night: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...TSRA. Saturday: Low Operational Impact. Slight Chance of SHRA...TSRA. && && .FIRE WEATHER... A warm front will move north of the region this morning...as a cold front will approach from the eastern Great Lakes Region for the afternoon into this evening. Scattered thunderstorms will be possible today ahead of the cold front. Cooler and less humid conditions will return Tuesday...and will last into the mid week with high pressure in control. The RH values will lower to 45 to 60 percent this afternoon...and then increase to 85 to 100 percent tonight...before dropping off to 30 to 45 percent Tuesday afternoon. The winds will be from the south to southwest at 10 to 20 mph with some gusts around 30 mph...and then will shift to the west to northwest at 5 to 15 mph tonight. The winds will be north to northwest at 5 to 10 mph on Tuesday. Most locations will receive a quarter to half an inch of rainfall from the showers and thunderstorms today...with some locally higher amounts. && .HYDROLOGY... No widespread hydro problems are expected on the main stem rivers the next 5 days ending Friday. Shower and thunderstorms are expected today as cold front approaches from the Great Lakes region and pre-frontal trough develops along with the approach of a short wave. In addition, elevated precipitable water values are still forecasted in the 1.25-1.75 inch range, so the storms will be capable of very heavy downpours. Some minor urban flooding of poor drainage and low lying areas would be possible. Areas of the Catskills and mid Hudson Valley, that have received a benefit of recent rainfall, would be the most susceptible area at this time. Overall...basin average rainfall amounts will be in the quarter to three quarters of an inch range. Fair weather is then expected Tuesday until late in week. Our next chances for some showers and thunderstorms will come on Friday and head into the weekend. For details on specific area rivers and lakes, including observed and forecast river stages and lake elevations, please visit the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service /AHPS/ graphs on our website. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. NY...None. MA...None. VT...None. && SYNOPSIS...SND/Wasula NEAR TERM...SND/BGM SHORT TERM...Wasula LONG TERM...IAA AVIATION...VTK FIRE WEATHER...Wasula HYDROLOGY...BGM/Wasula www.weather.gov/albany
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1213 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 CTZ001-013-MAZ001-025-NYZ032-033-038>043-047>054-058>061-063>066- 082>084-VTZ013>015-191100- 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- 1213 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 395 IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK...EASTERN 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...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. HEAT INDICES MAY REACH ADVISORY LEVELS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ESPECIALLY IN THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY AND SUNDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED AT THIS TIME. WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 1209 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 NYZ033-038-039-082-181645- NORTHERN FULTON-SOUTHERN FULTON-SOUTHERN HERKIMER-HAMILTON- 1209 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN HERKIMER...SOUTH CENTRAL HAMILTON AND FULTON COUNTIES... AT 1208 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED OVER STRATFORD...OR 11 MILES NORTHEAST OF LITTLE FALLS...MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... GLOVERSVILLE...JOHNSTOWN...DOLGEVILLE...BROADALBIN...NORTHVILLE... MAYFIELD...STRATFORD...CAROGA LAKE...NORTHAMPTON BEACH PUBLIC CAMPGROUND...CRANBERRY CREEK...CAROGA LAKE PUBLIC CAMPGROUND... OPPENHEIM...BERKSHIRE...BLEECKER...HOPE...ARIETTA...BENSON...SMITHS CORNERS...FICAL CORNERS AND FAIRCHILDS CORNERS. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS. FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE. LAT...LON 4332 7415 4301 7410 4306 7479 4330 7481 TIME...MOT...LOC 1608Z 266DEG 43KT 4316 7468 SND/O'KEEFE
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
1237 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
NYZ033-039-041-050-082-083-181700-
NORTHERN FULTON-NORTHERN SARATOGA-SOUTHEAST WARREN-SOUTHERN
FULTON-SOUTHERN SARATOGA-HAMILTON-
1237 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHEASTERN HAMILTON...
SARATOGA...EASTERN FULTON AND SOUTHEASTERN WARREN COUNTIES...
AT 1237 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR NORTHAMPTON
BEACH PUBLIC CAMPGROUND...OR 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF GLOVERSVILLE...
MOVING EAST AT 55 MPH.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SARATOGA SPRINGS...GLENS FALLS...HUDSON FALLS...MILTON...
BALLSTON SPA...FORT EDWARD...CORINTH...BROADALBIN...HAGAMAN...
EDINBURG...NORTHVILLE...GALWAY...GLENS FALLS NORTH...
LAKE LUZERNE CAMPGROUND...DAY CENTER...LAKE LUZERNE-HADLEY...
LAKE LUZERNE-HADLE...NORTHAMPTON BEACH PUBLIC CAMPGROUND...
ROCK CITY FALLS AND CRANBERRY CREEK.
THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING HIGHWAYS...
INTERSTATE 90 NEAR MILE MARKER 10-9.
INTERSTATE 87 NEAR MILE MARKER 13...AND BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 14 AND
16.
LAT...LON 4338 7431 4339 7416 4337 7416 4340 7388
4341 7384 4342 7364 4341 7362 4330 7359
4324 7360 4322 7358 4313 7359 4310 7357
4304 7359 4298 7410 4298 7417
TIME...MOT...LOC 1637Z 251DEG 49KT 4314 7411
SND/OKEEFEPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
101 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1236 PM TSTM WND DMG WESTERLO 42.52N 74.05W
07/18/2016 ALBANY NY 911 CALL CENTER
TREE DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 402 AND ROUTE 405.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY1601976
11PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
124 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0120 PM TSTM WND DMG HUDSON FALLS 43.30N 73.58W
07/18/2016 WASHINGTON NY TRAINED SPOTTER
POWERLINES DOWN 1/2 MILE WEST OF ROUTE 4 ON ROUTE 32.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY1601977
11PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
134 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 PM TSTM WND DMG QUEENSBURY 43.36N 73.67W
07/18/2016 WARREN NY TRAINED SPOTTER
POWERLINES AND LARGE TREE LIMBS DOWN ON RICHARDS ST
NEAR CEDAR DAM.
&&
EVENT NUMBER ALY1601978
11SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
139 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
MAZ001-VTZ013-014-181815-
NORTHERN BERKSHIRE-BENNINGTON-WESTERN WINDHAM-
139 PM EDT MON JUL 18 2016
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT NORTH CENTRAL BERKSHIRE...
SOUTHERN BENNINGTON AND SOUTHWESTERN WINDHAM COUNTIES...
AT 138 PM EDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR STAMFORD...OR
NEAR BENNINGTON...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BENNINGTON...NORTH ADAMS...TOWNSHEND...MONROE...WILMINGTON...
STAMFORD...READSBORO...NEWFANE...WHITINGHAM...DOVER...MARLBORO...
HALIFAX...WOODFORD...JACKSONVILLE...SEARSBURG...GREYLOCK...
MEDBURYVILLE...SOUTH NEWFANE...GOOSE CITY AND WEST DOVER.
TORRENTIAL RAINFALL IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED
ROADWAYS.
FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 10 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.
LAT...LON 4277 7270 4274 7289 4274 7302 4272 7302
4269 7317 4286 7325 4306 7264 4301 7262
TIME...MOT...LOC 1738Z 251DEG 38KT 4280 7312
SNDThe Albany radar (KENX), 68 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:43 UTC.
6 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous trees and power lines were downed near Bailey Road in Lanesborough due to thunderstorm winds.
Trees and wires were downed on Mill Hill Road and Meadowbrook Lane in Cheshire due to thunderstorm winds.
Trees and wires were downed on Main Street in Cheshire due to thunderstorm winds.
Trees, power poles and wires were downed on East Main Street in Cheshire due to thunderstorm winds. The road was temporarily closed due to the downed trees and wires. A garage was damaged by the downed trees and one of the trees also fell on a home as well.
Numerous trees were downed along the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Cheshire. The trees were downed along the trail between the Cheshire Reservoir and East Main Street. Several of the trees that fell nearly hit a person walking along the trail.
A tree was downed and blocking a road on Main Road in Savoy due to thunderstorm winds.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, July 2016
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: 641740, 641741, 641745, 641747, 641749, 641743.