A cold front approaching southern New England triggered one isolated severe thunderstorm in western Massachusetts during the evening.
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.
A cold front approaching southern New England triggered one isolated severe thunderstorm in western Massachusetts during the evening.
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 28, 4:49 PM EST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 549 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 .SYNOPSIS... Showers and thunderstorms through this evening as a cold front approaches southern New England. Another disturbance aloft and surface low tracking northeast from the mid-Atlantic may bring some showers to southeast New England Friday evening. Tranquil and pleasant summer conditions expected for the weekend. Turning warmer and more humid for Monday with a a cool frontal passage offering chances for showers or storms on Tuesday. Turning even warmer and more humid with potential for oppressive heat indices by late in the week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... 545 PM Update: Update to issue Severe Thunderstorm Watch 506 in effect for Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex and Essex Counties until 1000 PM. The Watch does not include northern CT, RI and eastern MA from Boston southward but doesn't mean the risk is necessarily over there. Reminder that severe weather can occur in and around a Severe Thunderstorm Watch area. The overall severe weather risk, in terms of confidence, is admittedly not high. All afternoon, with exception for a couple of brief supercells, storms in eastern NY have developed to about 30k before going to anvil out pretty quickly. The air mass is more unstable across most of Southern New England, with CAPEs in the 2000 J/kg range and effective shear magnitudes progged to increase to around 50-55 kt early to mid tonight. Have seen a marked increase in lightning over the last half-hour, though, as storms move into Berkshire County. Following the 18 to 20z HRRR and the 18z NAM-3km, the greatest risk for strong/severe storms is in the Watch area mainly from about 6 to 10 PM, with more limited development into northern CT, RI and southeast MA. Gusty to locally damaging straight line winds is the main severe weather risk, though if storms can congeal into a line, the risk would increase for a greater number of residents. It is also feasible that severe storms remain north of the MA border where better shear/wind fields exist. Previous discussion: Highlights... * A few severe thunderstorms are possible through this evening in western and central Massachusetts, northern Connecticut, and northwest Rhode Island, mainly between 4 and 10 PM. * The primary threats from these storms include localized damaging wind gusts, poor drainage flooding, and frequent lightning. This afternoon/evening: Cumulus clouds are bubbling along a frontal boundary which extends are mid Connecticut to mid Rhode Island. On the south side of the boundary dew points are in the low to mid 70s while the north side has dew points in the upper 60s to low 70s. Despite the broken cloud cover much of the area has reached the low and middle 80s. Checking out the convective parameters, SPC meso analysis has 1,500 to 2,000 J/kg of CAPE as of early this afternoon. Going off the RAP, CAPE values reach 2,500J/kg for western MA and northwest CT. In addition, to the high values of CAPE, this part of southern New England is forecast to have the greatest values of effective shear and helicity. The convective models have been indicating a few isolated showers and storms developing early this afternoon ahead of the surface trough. A line looks to develop 20z to 21z across eastern New York state before reaching the border of Massachusetts and Connecticut around 22z. From there storms will moves west to east reaching eastern Massachusetts around 02z to 04z. Primary threats this afternoon are isolated damaging straight-line wind gusts and isolated poor drainage flooding. The area with the greatest risk of seeing these stronger storms are focused across western Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut. Overnight: Showers exit the coast of eastern Massachusetts at the latest 04z to 06z. Temperatures remind mild overnight with lows in the mid 60s to low 70s. Areas of coastal fog is likely for a few hours tonight as we wait for dew point temperatures to fall from the low and mid 70s to the mid 60s. Winds overnight are generally light and out of the west. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/... 240 PM Update... Highlights... * Partly sunny and warm for Friday, but slightly less humid then Thursday with dew points in the 60s. Friday: Cold front clears the coast which brings dew points back into the middle and upper 60s, which is still fairly muggy. The 925mb temperatures range from +22C to +25C, this will yield high temperatures in the upper 80s to 90F degrees. Where it is likely to be cooler are the eastern slopes of the Berkshires, here high temperatures will range from 78F to 82F. Winds are west/southwest at 8 to 12 knots. Clouds increase later in the afternoon ahead of a shortwave that brings a chance for showers and thunderstorms Friday evening. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... 240 PM Update... Highlights... * Period of showers, possible rumble of thunder overnight Fri night for southeast New England. * Dry weather and tranquil summer weather this weekend, turning warmer Monday. * Cold front brings a risk for showers/storms Tuesday. * Turning even warmer and more humid mid to late in the week. Details: Friday Night: Second, stronger shortwave trough moving through the OH Valley early Fri night will help transport a weak surface low near the D.C. Metro area toward our southern coastal waters. While we will see another surge in precipitable water values to around 1.5-1.8 per the 15z SREF, looks like the surface low tracks too far to the southeast for soaking rains; however best chance for rains (solid Chance/lower Likely) south and east of I-95, with lower/nil chances further northwest. Shown rain amounts around 0.1-0.2" with less north and west. Lows upper 50s to low 60s for the interior, mid 60s to low 70s eastern and southeast New England as well into CT. The Weekend: After any early-Saturday, showers exit Cape Cod and the Islands, a pleasant summer weekend is shaping up for Southern New England. Expect plenty of sun, highs in the mid 80s/lows in the 60s, and comfortable humidity levels under modest N/NW winds. Monday through Tuesday: SW flow resumes on Monday, which should bring a return to more summerlike warmth with rising humidity levels. Still dry though during the day on Monday, with a bit of an increase in clouds later in the day into the evening. Highs in the mid 80s to low 90s with similar heat indices. Warm and humid weather early on Tues precedes what looks to be a weakening cool front which moves eastward through New England Tuesday. This offers the next best chance for modest rains, though frontolytic influences (e.g. modifying/warming cool side of the boundary) are not too promising. Carried chance-level PoP for now on Tues, with front looking to move offshore early Tues night. Opted to bring lows a couple degs lower than NBM due to envisioned cloudiness which brings highs into the mid-upper 80s, but it's not out of the question a few locations could hit 90 degrees if there's less cloud cover. Wednesday through Late Week: Ensemble means indicate even warmer to hot weather and more humid conditions in store for Southern New England. With the potential for a slowing cold front that could focus chances for clouds/t-storms, it's still not clear what exact heat index values will be and the need for any heat headlines. However opportunity nonetheless exists for oppressive heat at some point or all of this period. && .AVIATION /22Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Today...High confidence. Mainly VFR, but patchy MVFR possible in TSRA. Widely scattered showers/t-storms becoming more numerous across northern and western MA by late afternoon with a more potent line likely moving through southern New England during the evening. Some of the stronger storms may be accompanied by gusty winds and heavy rainfall. S winds increasing to 10-20 kt. Tonight...Moderate confidence. MVFR cigs RI/SE MA in the evening in TSRA, then improving to VFR overnight behind the line of showers and storms. Friday...Moderate confidence. Mainly VFR with local MVFR possible in SHRA with isolated TSRA possible. WSW winds 8-12 kt. KBOS...High confidence in TAF. KBDL...High confidence in TAF. Outlook /Friday Night through Tuesday/... Friday Night: VFR. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Saturday: VFR. Breezy. Saturday Night through Sunday Night: VFR. Monday: VFR. Breezy. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Winds and seas expected to remain below SCA thresholds through Friday. Increasing south winds today with gusts up to 20 kt, then diminishing tonight and shifting to W overnight. A few showers/t-storms possible this evening and again late Friday. Outlook /Friday Night through Tuesday/... Friday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers. Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms. Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain showers. Saturday Night through Sunday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Monday: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain showers. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && SYNOPSIS...Loconto/Gaucher NEAR TERM...Loconto/Gaucher SHORT TERM...Gaucher LONG TERM...Loconto AVIATION...Loconto/Gaucher MARINE...Loconto/Gaucher
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 409 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 MAZ006-007-013>024-RIZ002>008-292015- Western Essex MA-Eastern Essex 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-Southeast Providence RI-Western Kent RI-Eastern Kent RI- Bristol RI-Washington RI-Newport RI-Block Island RI- 409 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern Massachusetts, northeastern Massachusetts, southeastern Massachusetts, northern Rhode Island and southern Rhode Island. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-292015- 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- 409 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for Massachusetts and Rhode Island coastal waters. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. CTZ002>004-MAZ002>005-008>012-026-RIZ001-292015- Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA- Eastern Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-Central Middlesex MA- Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-Eastern Hampshire MA- Eastern Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA-Northern Middlesex MA- Northwest Providence RI- 409 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northern Connecticut, central Massachusetts, eastern Massachusetts, western Massachusetts and northern Rhode Island. .DAY ONE...Tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. For more information on upcoming hazardous weather, please see the Area Forecast Discussion on our webpage for the latest forecast thinking. There is also our Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook at www.weather.gov/box/ehwo For the latest updates...please visit our webpage at www.weather.gov/boston You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/us.nationalweatherservice.boston.gov You can follow us on Twitter at @NWSBoston
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 207 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>004-008>012-026-RIZ001-290100- Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA- Eastern Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-Western Hampshire MA- Western Hampden MA-Eastern Hampshire MA-Eastern Hampden MA- Southern Worcester MA-Northern Middlesex MA- Northwest Providence RI- Including the cities of Hartford, Windsor Locks, Union, Vernon, Putnam, Willimantic, Charlemont, Greenfield, Orange, Barre, Fitchburg, Chesterfield, Blandford, Amherst, Northampton, Springfield, Milford, Worcester, Ayer, Foster, and Smithfield 207 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING... A few severe thunderstorms are possible through this evening in western and central Massachusetts, northern Connecticut, and northwest Rhode Island, mainly between 4 and 10 PM. The primary threats from these storms include localized damaging wind gusts, poor drainage flooding, and frequent lightning. If you have outdoor plans through this evening keep an eye to the sky and plan to move indoors as storms approach. Gaucher
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
559 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
MAZ002-003-008>011-282330-
Western Franklin MA-Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-
Eastern Hampden MA-Eastern Franklin MA-Eastern Hampshire MA-
559 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
At 557 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms
entering Berkshire County, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Strong winds could cause minor damage such as downed
branches.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Heath and Rowe around 605 PM EDT.
Colrain around 615 PM EDT.
Leyden around 625 PM EDT.
Greenfield and Bernardston around 630 PM EDT.
Gill around 635 PM EDT.
Northfield, Chester, Blandford and Middlefield around 645 PM EDT.
Orange and Huntington around 700 PM EDT.
Montgomery around 705 PM EDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Get indoors when you hear thunder. Do not resume outdoor activities
until at least 30 minutes after the storm has passed.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
western and central Massachusetts.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7301 4263 7295 4266 7295 4267 7300
4270 7295 4270 7302 4274 7302 4272 7228
4267 7227 4264 7222 4262 7223 4258 7228
4253 7227 4224 7263 4224 7301 4231 7300
4233 7306 4238 7307
TIME...MOT...LOC 2157Z 278DEG 25KT 4280 7284 4234 7341
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JWDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
651 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
MAZ003-004-008>011-282345-
Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-Eastern Hampden MA-
Northern Worcester MA-Eastern Franklin MA-Eastern Hampshire MA-
651 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
At 651 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Chester, or 13 miles northwest of Westfield, moving east at 30 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Strong winds could cause minor damage such as downed
branches.
This strong thunderstorm will be near...
Huntington around 700 PM EDT.
Russell and Montgomery around 705 PM EDT.
Southampton and Westhampton around 710 PM EDT.
Westfield, Northampton and Easthampton around 720 PM EDT.
Holyoke around 725 PM EDT.
South Hadley around 730 PM EDT.
Springfield, Chicopee and Granby around 735 PM EDT.
Ludlow, Wilbraham and Monson around 745 PM EDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Get indoors when you hear thunder. Do not resume outdoor activities
until at least 30 minutes after the storm has passed.
Do not drive through flooded roads or underpasses. Avoid low lying
areas near small streams.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
western and central Massachusetts.
&&
LAT...LON 4238 7302 4239 7301 4244 7300 4241 7230
4209 7234 4219 7302 4225 7300 4231 7300
4231 7303
TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 278DEG 27KT 4228 7293
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JWDSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
713 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
MAZ003>006-026-290015-
Northwest Middlesex County MA-Central Middlesex County MA-
Western Essex MA-Northern Worcester MA-Eastern Franklin MA-
713 PM EDT Thu Jul 28 2022
...LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ENTERING NORTH CENTRAL
MASSACHUSETTS...
At 712 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Fitzwilliam to near Shutesbury. Movement
was east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Strong winds could cause minor damage such as downed
branches.
Locations impacted include...
Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, Methuen, Leominster, Fitchburg,
Chelmsford, Andover, Dracut, Orange, Westford, Gardner, Athol,
Pepperell, Tyngsborough, Groton, Winchendon, Lunenburg, Townsend and
Littleton.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Get indoors when you hear thunder. Do not resume outdoor activities
until at least 30 minutes after the storm has passed.
Do not drive through flooded roads or underpasses. Avoid low lying
areas near small streams.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM EDT for
western, central and northeastern Massachusetts.
&&
LAT...LON 4278 7109 4244 7157 4246 7250 4272 7218
4270 7129 4274 7124 4274 7119 4278 7118
TIME...MOT...LOC 2312Z 265DEG 45KT 4271 7214 4249 7244
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JWDThe Boston radar (KBOX), 124 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:37 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
In West Springfield, a tree and wires were down. Report relayed by amateur radio.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, July 2022
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: 1035237.