New Hampshire, 2023

Hail and Damaging Winds in New Hampshire, August 4, 2023

August 4, 2023 · NWS GYX · 7 events in 2 counties and zones

A weak low pressure system approached Western New Hampshire with southerly flow ahead of the feature advecting abundant moisture and instability into the region ahead of it. Cool upper levels allowed for thunderstorms to quickly develop by midday with the atmosphere supporting large hail formation and gusty outflow convective winds.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS GYX wrote it up.

A weak low pressure system approached Western New Hampshire with southerly flow ahead of the feature advecting abundant moisture and instability into the region ahead of it. Cool upper levels allowed for thunderstorms to quickly develop by midday with the atmosphere supporting large hail formation and gusty outflow convective winds. Storms quickly become severe in Grafton and Sullivan Counties by early afternoon. Many hail and wind damage reports were received across this area during the afternoon hours.

What forecasters said that day

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 Gray, ME wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 4, 11:44 AM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 4, 11:44 AM EST, 1 hour 12 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 4, 11:48 AM EST, 1 hour 8 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 4, 9:18 AM EST, 3 hours 38 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 4, 12:17 PM EST, 39 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Aug 4, 12:34 PM EST, 22 minutes before
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The radar

The Burlington radar (KCXX), 107 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grafton

When
August 4, 12:56 PM EST to 12:59 PM EST
Where
Grafton County, 3.49 mi S of Orford
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
43.870, -72.160

Convective outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed trees on River Rd. near the Lyme-Orfordville town line.

Hail, Grafton

When
August 4, 1:02 PM EST to 1:05 PM EST
Where
Grafton County, 2.81 mi S of Orford
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.880, -72.160

A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of half dollars north of Lyme, New Hampshire.

Hail, Sullivan

When
August 4, 3:42 PM EST to 3:47 PM EST
Where
Sullivan County, 0.85 mi SE of North Charlestown
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.310, -72.390

A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of ping pongs south of Claremont, New Hampshire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sullivan

When
August 4, 4:07 PM EST to 4:12 PM EST
Where
Sullivan County, 0.5 mi W of Claremont
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.380, -72.360

Convective outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed trees south of Claremont, New Hampshire.

Hail, Sullivan

When
August 4, 4:22 PM EST to 4:25 PM EST
Where
Sullivan County, 0.5 mi W of Puckershire
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.370, -72.330

A severe thunderstorm dropped hail the size of half dollars in Claremont, New Hampshire.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sullivan

When
August 4, 4:50 PM EST to 4:55 PM EST
Where
Sullivan County, 0.85 mi SE of North Grantham
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.520, -72.140

Convective outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed numerous trees in the town of Gantham along Interstate 89.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sullivan

When
August 4, 5:10 PM EST to 5:15 PM EST
Where
Sullivan County, 0.85 mi SE of Lempster
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.240, -72.210

Convective outflow winds from a severe thunderstorm downed multiple trees on North Pinkham Rr. between Unity and Lempster New Hampshire.

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in New Hampshire in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in New Hampshire, August 2023

Sources

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1138576, 1138575, 1138578, 1138581, 1138580, 1138583, 1138582.