A weak upper level disturbance moved through southern New England resulting in scattered showers and thunderstorms. One of these storms produced heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding in Shrewsbury.
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The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.
A weak upper level disturbance moved through southern New England resulting in scattered showers and thunderstorms. One of these storms produced heavy rainfall that resulted in flooding in Shrewsbury.
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 29, 6:18 PM EST, 57 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Taunton MA 718 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016 .SYNOPSIS... Low pressure will sweep south of New England into the overnight period. A brief period of drier conditions follow for Saturday with the slight chance of showers over Southwestern New England. A warm front will develop south of New England on Sunday with a few waves of low pressure passing eastward along it from Sunday through early Tuesday. Scattered showers are possible into early Tuesday, especially in western sections. Low pressure will move out to sea Tuesday. High pressure returns with dry and seasonable conditions for the middle and latter portion of next week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... 715 PM update... A few heavy showers continued across northern Worcester County and in northern Connecticut as of 715 PM. Another heavy shower was moving south into Middlesex County from the Nashua area. Winds gusted to near 25 mph with one of these showers at Westfield, MA during the past hour. The showers were shallow...below 25 kft...and were not producing lightning. The HRRR shows showers sliding southward through central MA over the next 2 hours before dissipating. Have updated PoPs to reflect this thinking. Otherwise no changes to forecast. Will need to keep a close eye on potential fog development in southeast MA. Previous discussion... Clearing continues across S New England allowing boundary layer destabilization beneath a conditionally unstable environment. Scattered heavy showers developing though low-topped, limited on development with likely warmer and sinking air aloft with slightly rising heights around H5 and in wake of the main mid-level vortex parent with the surface low sweeping out to sea. Slow moving through the rather weak 10 mph mean flow out of the NW, monitoring for possible localized flooding impacts. Development along fine- line convergence boundaries it would seem per observational mesoanalysis. Diurnally driven, should see activity diminish with sunset. Tonight... Clearing out with high pressure and drier air building in. With light winds, a favorable setup for radiational cooling. Noting a somewhat soupy airmass remaining in place with dewpoints hovering around the low to mid 60s, and considering antecedent rains, anticipating fog to develop. Confident within the CT River Valley, E CT, interior Southeast MA of some visibility restrictions. Perhaps some issues along the coasts though may see more clouds than fog with the NE onshore flow turning N through the overnight period. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/... Saturday... High pressure and drier air linger lending to mostly clear conditions and light winds. Likely sea-breezes to develop around mid to late morning. Model forecast indications of showers developing along sea- breezes per a measure of lift of available surface based instability and decent low level moisture availability, that or upstream convection from PA becomes an influence. Precipitable waters forecast up to 2 inches. But considering an unfavorable environment given confluent mid to upper level flow and mid level height rises lending to some measure of sinking air, feel there is a low risk of showery weather and mainly late in the day. Thus leaning with slight chance PoPs mainly for S/W New England encompassing much of the N-half of CT into the Springfield MA metro. Forecast +14-16C H85 temperatures warrant mid to upper 80s for highs. Already temperatures were underdone earlier today after clouds started to break, so am going to up the forecast highs a degree or two warmer nudging the Hartford-metro to near 90. Saturday night... Approaching low to mid level warm frontal boundary parent with the surface low over the S Great Lakes Region. Continued moistening of the low to mid levels per isentropic upslope over-running flow out ahead of the system. Leaning that high pressure and drier air lingers long enough to buffer the onset of wet weather into the E-half of New England much as the 29.09z SREF would suggest. There is as well continued mid to upper level height rises. So will go with chance PoPs for the W, lesser to the E. Overnight lows slightly more mild with anticipated cloud cover and winds at the surface slightly more ashore, though beginning to see surface low pressure take shape S/W of New England towards Sunday morning. && .LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... Highlights... * Unsetlled Sunday through early Tuesday with scattered showers, mainly in western sections. * Mainly dry and seasonable weather Tuesday afternoon through Friday, with a warming trend. Overview and model preferences... Models in reasonably good agreement through the period. An upper level trough moves from the eastern Great Lakes Sunday across New England early Tuesday, then out to sea. A ridge of high pressure builds aloft across the northeast states, cresting over the region on Friday. At the surface, a warm front will develop to our south Sunday. Several waves of weak low pressure are forecast to move along the front, but remaining to our south. The low finally consolidates then moves out over Georges Bank by Tuesday. High pressure settles over New England Tuesday afternoon through Friday. A cold front is then poised to move through the area next Saturday. Used a consensus blend of available model and ensemble guidance for this portion of the forecast. Details... Sunday through early Tuesday... Expect waves of low pressure to move slowly along a stalled front just south of New England, keeping low and mid level moisture in place with a light east-southeast flow gradually becoming northeast. On Sunday afternoon and evening, models have been consistently showing instability over the Hudson Valley in southeast NY. With upslope flow, our best chances of showers will be in the higher terrain of western MA and perhaps also in the Worcester hills. The ECMWF is an outlier in showing heavy convection/thunderstorms moving eastward from the Hudson Valley into CT and then into southern RI, as it travels along and just north of the warm front. For now have 50-60 percent probabilities in western MA and northwest Hartford County, with lesser chances as one heads east. Generally the same reasoning continues Sunday night through early Tuesday. During this time, low pressure consolidates and moves out sea, southeast of Cape Cod/Islands. There could be scattered showers at any time, with the best chances in the western hills. But most of the time it will be rain-free. Temperatures will run slightly below seasonal normals with highs Sunday in the 70s and mainly 75-80 Monday. Tuesday afternoon through Friday... A high amplitude 500 mb ridge moves east from the eastern Great Lakes and crests over New England on Friday. By Wednesday, our winds will shift to a southwesterly direction and the gradual warming trend will begin. Maximum temperatures will rise a few degrees each day, reaching the mid and upper 80s Thursday and upper 80s to lower 90s on Friday. No precipitation is forecast, although we cannot rule out an isolated shower or thunderstorm in far northwestern sections late Friday afternoon. A cold front is then expected to move through the area next Saturday with a chance of showers or thunderstorms, but that's beyond our current forecast period. && .AVIATION /23Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... Forecaster Confidence Levels. Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Short Term /through Saturday Night/...High confidence. 2315Z update... This evening... VFR, except scattered heavy showers may impact the area from BED- ORH- BDL- IJD before 01Z...then they should dissipate. Local MVFR visibility in heavier showers, along with wind gusts to 20 kt. Tonight... All terminals VFR, improving to SKC. Overnight, monitoring for likely MVFR-IFR fog development. Especially focused across the CT River Valley, as well as interior E CT and SE MA. Could bee some issues along the E/SE coast of MA but lesser confidence with respect to the dense fog. Saturday... SCT-BKN cigs especially towards late in the day. Light winds. Sea-breezes developing along the shores late morning into afternoon. SCT SHRA/TSRA possible across S/W New England late but believe it to be a low risk. Saturday Night... BKN-OVC cigs with MVFR-IFR developing along the S-coast of New England towards Sunday morning. Increasing chance of RA from the S/W along with VSBY restrictions. KBOS TAF...High confidence. Conditions remain VFR into this evening. Though watching closely into this evening for TEMPO MVFR with NE onshore winds. Maybe even a SHRA. Believe it to be a low risk. KBDL TAF...High confidence. Low risk +SHRA towards the late afternoon period with TEMPO MVFR-IFR impacts. A moderate risk. Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/... Sunday through early Tuesday...Moderate confidence. Mainly VFR conditions. However, there will be scattered showers at any time. Cannot rule out a heavier shower or thunderstorm, especially in the slopes of the Berkshires and in northern CT on Sunday. Brief MVFR/IFR conditions are possible in the heavier showers. Patchy late night/early morning fog is possible, especially along the south coast, closer to the warm front. IFR conditions are likely in any areas of fog. Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday...High confidence. VFR. Just a few areas of MVFR possible in patchy late night/early morning valley fog and in the usual fog-prone places. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels. Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Short Term /through Saturday Night/...High confidence. 715 pm update... There is the possibility of visibility restrictions with fog during the overnight into early morning hours. Otherwise the majority of the forecast is comprised of winds below 25 knots and seas below 5 feet, with increasing chances of showers mainly Saturday night into Sunday morning. Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/...High confidence. Expect easterly winds (southeast through northeast) and seas below small craft criteria through the period. Seas may build to 4 ft Monday into Tuesday as low pressure passes through the region and out to sea around Georges Bank. Northeast winds may gust up to 20 kt mainly over the eastern outer waters Monday night and Tuesday. Locally reduced visibilities in scattered showers or an isolated thunderstorm through early Tuesday morning. Patchy late night/early morning fog through the period. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...Sipprell/Field NEAR TERM...Sipprell/Field SHORT TERM...Sipprell LONG TERM...Field AVIATION...Sipprell/Field MARINE...Sipprell/Field
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 340 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-RIZ001>008-301945- 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-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 340 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...ALL OF MASSACHUSETTS EXCEPT BERKSHIRE COUNTY...AND RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-301945- BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND- BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO 20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND- 340 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. FOR THE LATEST UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/NWSBOSTON YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AT @NWSBOSTON
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
751 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016
MAZ005-012-300030-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-
751 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...HEAVY SHOWER WITH GUSTY WINDS MOVING THROUGH SOUTHEAST
WORCESTER COUNTY...
AT 749 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A HEAVY RAIN SHOWER OVER
THE BOYLSTON AND SHREWSBURY AREAS...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
WINDS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SHOWER. IT MAY
ALSO DEVELOP A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WORCESTER...MARLBOROUGH...SHREWSBURY...MILFORD...WESTBOROUGH...
GRAFTON...ASHLAND...NORTHBRIDGE...HOPKINTON...NORTHBOROUGH...
HOLLISTON...UXBRIDGE...MILLBURY...SOUTHBOROUGH...SUTTON...UPTON...
HOPEDALE AND MENDON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WINDS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO KNOCK DOWN A FEW BRANCHES.
&&
LAT...LON 4236 7164 4235 7162 4236 7161 4220 7141
4208 7163 4229 7187 4234 7179 4231 7177
4233 7170 4232 7169 4236 7167
TIME...MOT...LOC 2349Z 324DEG 19KT 4233 7171
FIELDSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
808 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016
MAZ012-013-300045-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-
808 PM EDT FRI JUL 29 2016
...HEAVY SHOWER WITH STRONG GUSTY WINDS MOVING THROUGH SOUTHEAST
WORCESTER COUNTY...
AT 804 PM EDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A HEAVY RAIN SHOWER OVER
SHREWSBURY AREA...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.
THIS SHOWER HAS DEVELOPED STRONG WINDS WHICH MAY GUST TO 50 MPH.
IT MAY CONTINUE TO INTENSIFY AND PRODUCE A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
WORCESTER...MARLBOROUGH...SHREWSBURY...MILFORD...WESTBOROUGH...
GRAFTON...ASHLAND...NORTHBRIDGE...HOPKINTON...NORTHBOROUGH...
HOLLISTON...UXBRIDGE...MILLBURY...SOUTHBOROUGH...SUTTON...UPTON...
HOPEDALE AND MENDON.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
MOVE INDOORS. WINDS MAY BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE MINOR
DAMAGE...SUCH AS A FEW DOWNED BRANCHES.
&&
LAT...LON 4227 7155 4226 7159 4221 7160 4218 7155
4219 7154 4219 7150 4217 7150 4216 7148
4216 7146 4209 7141 4202 7166 4227 7183
4236 7163
TIME...MOT...LOC 0004Z 330DEG 19KT 4226 7168
FIELDThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Route 9 between Crescent Street and Maple Avenue was impassable due to flooding. Five cars were stuck in the flood waters over this stretch.
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: 654135.