Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Thursday 6/18/26 Severe Weather & Strong Wind Gusts Outside of Thunderstorms Potential
Hello to all…
..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible Thursday PM and Evening any time between 12 PM to 11 PM with the most likely time between 2-7 PM across all of Southern New England with the greatest threat over Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut..
..Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats and an isolated tornado as a secondary threat cannot be ruled out. The Storm Prediction Center has all of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for severe weather Thursday. A Tornado Watch is now in effect through 3 PM for Berkshire County Massachusetts and into Eastern New York and a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch could get expanded east later today..
..In addition, Strong Wind Gusts to around 40 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts are likely Thursday which will have the potential for isolated pockets of tree, wire damage and power outages independent of any strong to severe thunderstorms..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets possible if SKYWARN reportable criteria is met and/or if a severe thunderstorm/tornado warning is issued Thursday PM and Evening. Pictures and videos of wind damage, hail, flooding etc. can be sent as a reply to this email, via our Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..
The headlines depict current thinking on severe weather potential for Thursday. Key factors include:
1.) If more instability develops than expected with sunshine and destabilization, strong wind shear profiles could lead to a potentially more significant severe weather threat and this aspect will bear watching. If instability is limited, the severe weather potential will be more muted. Current satellite images show sufficient clearing for destabilization ahead of a line of severe thunderstorms in Central New York and this is expected to propagate eastward.
2.) Very strong wind shear profiles even with more limited instability could lead to a low instability, high shear environment that may allow for damaging wind and severe thunderstorm potential. There is some evidence of this as well with the line of severe thunderstorms in Central New York.
3.) Outside of any strong to severe thunderstorms, given strong low-level wind fields, wind gusts to around 40 MPH with potential for higher wind gusts could lead to isolated pockets of tree, wire damage and power outages.
SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets possible if SKYWARN reportable criteria is met and/or if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued Thursday PM/Evening. This will be the last coordination message unless a significant change to the situation occurs and time allows for an update. Pictures and videos of wind damage, hail, flooding etc. can be sent as a reply to this email, via our Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. Below is the SPC Tornado Watch #352 Statement, NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
SPC Tornado Watch #352 Statement:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0352.html
NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off
NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box
SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio