Strong Wind — Northwest Middlesex County, Massachusetts

2020-02-27 · Northwest Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Event narrative

In Townsend at 1210 PM EST, a tree and wires were down on Gilchrist Road. In Pepperell at 1210 PM EST, a pine tree and wires were down on Route 119. At 1124 AM EST, a wind gust to 56 mph occurred at the Lawrence, MA airport and at 154 PM EST, a gust to 52 mph was recorded at the Worcester, MA airport. But a CWOP report of only a 44 mph gust was received from Fitchburg at 345 PM EST, so we are going with an average estimate of 50 mph.

Wider weather episode

Strong low pressure in New York state moved north into eastern Canada. It was followed by a cold front that moved east across southern New England. The post-frontal tight pressure gradient caused strong southwest to west winds that gusted to 40 to 60 mph and caused some damage across Massachusetts.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 875340. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.