High Wind — Southeast Middlesex, Massachusetts

2021-10-26 to 2021-10-27 · Southeast Middlesex, Massachusetts

Event narrative

In Wakefield at Lake Quannapowitt, a Weatherflow mesonet site recorded a wind gust to 55 mph at 505 AM EDT (405 AM EST) on the 27th. In Medford, a CWOP site recorded a 52 mph gust at 629 AM EDT (529 AM EST). In Cambridge at 738 PM EDT on the 26th, a large tree was down on power lines on Middlesex St. In Lexington at 855 PM EDT, wires were down on Baskin Rd. According to state emergency management officials, damage totals in Middlesex County were $38,550, mainly for debris clearance. Most of the damage was in southeastern portions of the county.

Wider weather episode

A low pressure nor'easter underwent bombogenesis as it developed east of Nantucket on the 26th. It then moved west toward Nantucket Sound, before heading eastward again back out to sea on the 27th. Winds gusted to 60-90+ mph. More than one-half million power outages were reported...495,000 in MA and 96,800 in RI. Schools were closed for multiple days, as it took a while to clean up the downed trees/wires and to restore power.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 987668. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.