Early morning showers and thunderstorms occurred across far southeastern Massachusetts and the adjacent coastal waters.
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.
Early morning showers and thunderstorms occurred across far southeastern Massachusetts and the adjacent coastal waters.
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 Apr 28, 6:30 AM EST, 59 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Taunton MA
730 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017
.SYNOPSIS...
A mild start this morning with some more patchy dense fog will
lead to a mix of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Warmer
highs today will give way to another mild night. A cold front
crosses the region Saturday night, bringing much cooler weather
for Sunday, especially along the coast. Another cold front will
likely bring a period of showers sometime Monday into Tuesday.
Another storm may approach New England late Thursday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
Widespread fog blanketed southern New England again this
morning, with areas of dense fog toward the south coast of MA
and RI. Expecting visibility to improve fairly quickly this
morning, especially after a round of showers moves offshore by
10 AM. Will permit the Dense Fog Advisory to expire at 8 AM,
although patchy fog may linger a bit longer than that.
Just enough elevated instability this morning, with max 2-6km
lapse rates about 7-7.5 C/km. This instability should move
offshore my mid morning. Kept a mention of isolated
thunderstorms in the forecast early. Wind shear is very weak, so
not expecting any severe thunderstorms.
Minor tweaks to temperatures and winds this morning to reflect
observed trends. Also tweaked rainfall chances. The greatest
chance for measurable rainfall will be across southeast MA.
Previous discussion...
Forecast remains on track for this morning. Approaching frontal
system has resulted in an a surge of moisture thanks to southerly
winds. This has resulted in a advection fog developing and moving
onshore. Went ahead and expanded the dense fog advisory into RI as
webcams show vsbys dropping from fog. Also expanded the timing, to
get through the morning commute.
Aside from the patchy dense fog, we continue to watch showers out
west from approaching cold front. These showers are quite fragment
due to the dry air aloft from weak mid-level ridge. However as they
continue to move eastward, feel they will tap more into the low
level moisture resulting in better coverage over the next few hours.
Have noticed a few stronger showers with embedded thunder off the
coast of NJ and south of Long Island. Latest SPC meso analysis shows
some elevated instability across the area as well as steepening mid-
level lapse rates. This well help support any thunder chances across
the area this morning. Therefore will continue the mention of
thunder.
Showers and embedded thunder will move from west to east early this
morning and should be offshore by the early afternoon hours.
This afternoon...
The front will swing through and stall/washout across the south
coast by the afternoon. Anticipate clearing and the return of
sunshine for today. Despite being behind the front, anticipate a
mild day with highs in the in the upper 70s with cooler conditions
along the south coast.
Model guidance is hinting at some surface CAPE, good shear and steep
lapse rates during the afternoon hours. However, subsidence behind
the morning shortwave and very dry mid levels of the atmosphere
should prevent convection from developing. As prev forecaster noted,
still have the front lingering near by, so if there is any moisture
we cant rule out the potential for an iso thunder. Something to keep
an eye on later today.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM SATURDAY/...
Dry air aloft as mid-level ridge moves over the region.
Continuous southerly flow however will limit overnight temps
from cooling. In fact, anticipate another mild night as today's
frontal system is draped across the south coast. Dewpoints will
also be on the rise, so cannot rule out another round of patchy
fog, with the south coast begin the best spot for this to occur.
For the second half of the night, moisture aloft will begin to
increase in the mid-levels as an upper level shortwave and
associated system approaches from the west. Guidance has speed
up the timing, bringing showers through the area by dawn on
Saturday morning. Am concern that the NAM appears to indicate a
weaken MCS with the Hi-res guidance also showing a few stronger
showers. This is plausible as guidance continues to indicated
elevated instability overnight and the stalled front could be
the focus for come convection as the wave pushes through.
An area of high pressure to the north will slowly extend
eastward during the later half of the day. This will push a low
level boundary across the region during the afternoon. Will
keep a low chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm
Saturday afternoon with some lingering instability, if the
atmosphere can recover from morning convection. Temperatures on
Saturday will be mild with highs in the mid to upper 70s.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
Overview...
28/00Z guidance is in reasonable agreement with the overall
evolution of the synoptic pattern through Wednesday. Details
become more problematic during the second half of next week.
Monitoring two primary periods of precipitation: one early next
week, and the other later next week. Will continue to favor a
consensus blend to smooth over the less predictable details.
Details...
Saturday night through Sunday...
High pressure noses into our region from southeast Canada. This
will push a cont front to our south, and bring drier weather
with near normal temperatures.
Sunday night...
A warm front start to approach our region. Scattered showers are
possible north of this front.
Monday-Tuesday...
This is one of the more likely periods for precipitation. A low
pressure moves through the Great Lakes, driving a warm front
through southern New England. Some showers, and perhaps a few
thunderstorms, are expected. A strong southwest low level jet
should maximize moisture transport Monday night, resulting in
periods of moderate to briefly heavy rainfall. Still need to
refine the timing details.
Wednesday-Thursday...
This is probably going to be mainly a lull between two larger
systems. Once the Monday/Tuesday system departs, looking at only
a couple of weakening boundaries to contend with. A shortwave
aloft may provide just enough lift to generate some showers
into Thursday morning. After that time, expecting an increasing
risk for showers ahead of another approaching low Thursday
evening and night. This timing remains low confidence, and will
need to be monitored for later forecast changes.
&&
.AVIATION /11Z FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
Short Term /through Saturday/...
This morning...High confidence in trends. Moderate confidence in
timing. IFR/LIFR in fog and drizzle early this morning. Passing
cold front will push showers and embedded -TSRA from west to
east by the late morning.
After 18z...High confidence. Rapid improvement across the region
to VFR. Winds turn W, with gusts to 15 kt at times.
Tonight and Saturday...Moderate confidence.
Mainly VFR conditions with chances of MVFR/IFR in patchy fog and
stratus. Could see conditions lower in passing showers/thunder
early Saturday morning. Conditions improve by the afternoon with
a low risk for -TSRA.
KBOS TAF...Moderate confidence in TAF. SW winds are marginal
enough where there is a low risk seabreeze redevelops later this
afternoon. The trigger for that will be rapid clearing and
rising temperatures.
KBDL TAF...High confidence in TAF.
Outlook /Saturday Night through Tuesday/...Moderate confidence.
Saturday night and Sunday...High confidence. VFR.
Sunday night to Tuesday...Moderate confidence.
MVFR/IFR cigs/vsbys in low clouds/drizzle and light showers Sunday
night. VFR and areas of MVFR in showers Monday and Tuesday.
Possible low level wind shear especially over RI and SE Mass
Monday night and Tuesday morning.
&&
.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
Short Term /through Saturday/...High confidence.
Small Craft Advisories will remain in effect mainly over the
offshore waters into tonight as a lingering 5-7 ft swell
remains. Winds shifting to the west during the day will back to
the SW by tonight and should remain below the 25 kt threshold
through the period.
The risk for a few thunderstorm offshore this morning continues
with another risk tomorrow morning.
Small Craft Advisories may be expanded into Saturday, but has
low confidence on wave forecast at this time. Could also see
25 kt gusts across the near shore waters.
Outlook /Saturday Night through Tuesday/...Moderate confidence.
Winds expected to remain less than 20 kt through Monday.
Southwest winds increasing ahead of a cold front Tuesday may
result in gusts up to 30 kt Monday night into Tuesday, mainly
across the southern coastal waters.
Seas should remain less than 5 ft into Monday morning, then
build across the outer coastal waters due to the increasing
southwest flow Monday afternoon into Tuesday.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
* Isolated minor coastal flooding impacts during astronomically
high tide tonight along the east coast
The astronomical high tides remain very elevated into this
weekend.
Given a lingering swell offshore and its remnant surge, with high
tide values only a few tenths shy of typical minor flooding levels,
a Coastal Flood Statement continues for the high tide near 2 AM
tonight for east coastal locations. At this time, we anticipate
only minimal impacts at typically prone locations.
Also, due to the breadth of the fetch, we may encounter enough
wave action with lengthening periods on top of an elevated tide
to cause pockets of erosion tonight along the Martha's Vineyard
south coast, Nantucket south and east coasts, and the outer
Cape ocean side from Truro to Chatham.
Boston High Tides (flood stage at Boston 12.5 feet)...
12.14 feet / Saturday 12:56 am
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...Dense Fog Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for MAZ020>024.
RI...Dense Fog Advisory until 8 AM EDT this morning for RIZ002-
004>008.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ235-
237.
Small Craft Advisory until 11 PM EDT this evening for ANZ250.
Small Craft Advisory until 2 AM EDT Saturday for ANZ254>256.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Belk/Dunten
NEAR TERM...Belk/Dunten
SHORT TERM...Dunten
LONG TERM...Belk
AVIATION...Belk/Dunten
MARINE...Belk/Dunten
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Taunton MA 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>006-008>014-017-018-026-RIZ001-003-290830- Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA- Eastern Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-Central Middlesex MA- Western Essex MA-Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA- Eastern Hampshire MA-Eastern Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA- Western Norfolk MA-Southeast Middlesex MA-Northern Bristol MA- Western Plymouth MA-Northern Middlesex MA-Northwest Providence RI- Western Kent RI- 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Connecticut, central Massachusetts, interior eastern Massachusetts, western Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. .DAY ONE...Today 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. RIZ002-004-290830- Southeast Providence RI-Eastern Kent RI- 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for southeast Providence and eastern Kent counties. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Dense Fog Advisory. .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. MAZ007-015-016-019-290830- Eastern Essex MA-Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA-Eastern Plymouth MA- 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern coastal Massachusetts. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. High astronomical tides continue. Will need to monitor the possibility of minor coastal flooding during the time of high tide late this evening. Minor splashover and beach erosion are possible. .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. MAZ020>024-RIZ005>008-290830- Southern Bristol MA-Southern Plymouth MA-Barnstable MA-Dukes MA- Nantucket MA-Bristol RI-Washington RI-Newport RI-Block Island RI- 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 ...DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for south coastal and southeastern Massachusetts, and southern Rhode Island. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Dense Fog Advisory. .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>256-290830- 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- 426 AM EDT Fri Apr 28 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Today 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
607 AM EDT FRI APR 28 2017
RIZ002>004-006-007-281030-
Washington RI-Eastern Kent RI-Western Kent RI-Newport RI-
Southeast Providence RI-
607 AM EDT FRI APR 28 2017
...Cluster of showers and embedded thunderstorms moving across
southern Rhode Island...
At 605 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of heavy showers
and embedded thunderstorms near Charlestown, or 10 miles west of
South Kingstown, moving northeast at 45 mph.
Locations impacted include...
Warwick, Cranston, Coventry, South Kingstown, West Warwick, Johnston,
North Kingstown, Newport, Westerly, Portsmouth, Middletown,
Narragansett, East Greenwich, Scituate, Hopkinton, Charlestown,
Richmond, Exeter, West Greenwich and Jamestown.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent lightning was occurring. Lightning can strike far away from
the storm. Go inside a building or vehicle. Wait at least 30 minutes
until after the storm has passed to resume outdoor activities.
&&
LAT...LON 4132 7185 4134 7183 4141 7184 4142 7181
4142 7180 4161 7179 4173 7163 4173 7155
4178 7156 4182 7150 4138 7104 4126 7177
TIME...MOT...LOC 1005Z 236DEG 48KT 4141 7175
FrankSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Taunton MA
725 AM EDT FRI APR 28 2017
MAZ019-021-022-281200-
Eastern Plymouth MA-Southern Plymouth MA-Barnstable MA-
725 AM EDT FRI APR 28 2017
...Strong Thunderstorm tracking near the Cape Cod Canal...
At 724 AM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Wareham, or near Marion, moving northeast at 35 mph.
Pea size hail may accompany this storm.
Locations impacted include...
Plymouth, Falmouth, Marion, Wareham, Sandwich, Bourne, Carver and
Rochester.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Frequent lightning was occurring. Lightning can strike far away from
the storm. Go inside a building or vehicle. Wait at least 30 minutes
until after the storm has passed to resume outdoor activities.
&&
LAT...LON 4162 7068 4177 7081 4181 7075 4180 7072
4183 7071 4202 7037 4190 7027 4193 7034
4189 7034 4188 7026 4180 7020
TIME...MOT...LOC 1124Z 237DEG 31KT 4175 7065
FrankThe Boston radar (KBOX), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:28 UTC.
2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning struck a house on Main Street, causing damage to the electrical system. Some smoke was observed in the house.
The Nantucket Mirror newspaper reported two lightning strikes that caused damage. The first strike was to a home on Friendship lane, causing a small portion of the wall to be blown out and the flashing near the chimney to be bent upward. The second strike was to the Nantucket High School, causing a gymnasium window to be broken.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, April 2017
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: 682651, 682654.