NOUS41 KBOX 251716 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-260501- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT SPOTTER REPORTS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 114 PM EDT THU MAY 25 2006 STORM DATE: MAY 12-15, 2006 ...IMPRESSIVE LONG DURATION RECORD CHALLENGING BOSTON AREA RAIN EVENT SUMMARY... THE FOLLOWING IS A SAMPLING OF 4 DAY STORM TOTAL OBSERVATIONS FOR THE STORM THAT CAUSED MAJOR TO RECORD FLOODING IN PORTIONS SOUTH CENTRAL NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE NORTHEAST TIP OF MASSACHUSETTS WITH MINOR FLOODING IN OTHER PARTS OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE ASOS AND CO-OP DATA LISTED BELOW BECOMES OFFICIAL WHEN ITS CHECKED FOR ACCURACY ETC BY THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER. THIS LISTING MAY STILL BE INCOMPLETE THOUGH ITS CONSIDERED RELIABLY ACCURATE FOR THE DATA AND DATE POSTED. THIS MAY YET BE UPDATED ONE FINAL TIME LATE FRIDAY...RESOURCE AND WEATHER PERMITTING. WHILE THIS STORM DELIVERED RAIN INTERMITTENTLY OVER AN APPROXIMATELY 100 HOUR PERIOD...IT WAS ORIGINALLY SUBDIVIDED INTO THREE SEGMENTS FOR DATA MANAGEMENT PURPOSES. PART ONE...WHICH COVERED THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY FLOODING DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS FRIDAY MAY 12TH. ESSENTIALLY 5 TO 8 INCHES OCCURRED IN WESTERN HARTFORD COUNTY WITH LESSER AMOUNTS NORTH AND EAST OF HARTFORD. PART THREE...THE FINAL SEGMENT...OCCURRED MONDAY AFTERNOON THE 15TH INTO EARLY THE 16TH WITH GENERALLY LESS THAN 1.5 INCHES. IT WAS THE PRIMARY UPPER LEVEL CIRCULATION THAT HELPED GUIDE RECORD RAINFALL GENERATING MOISTURE INTO NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS OVER THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND /13TH-14TH/ AND WAS FINALLY LIFTING OUT ACROSS THE AREA LATE MONDAY THE 15TH...AFTER HAVING BEEN ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL DAYS FROM THE OHIO VALLEY TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. SO...THE MAIN PORTION OF THIS UNIQUE LONG DURATION STORM OCCURRED FROM FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING AND ITS CONTENTS ARE EMBEDDED IN THE 4 DAY TOTALS LISTED BELOW. PENDING NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER CERTIFICATION...A NEW STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS MONTHLY RAINFALL RECORD WAS LIKELY ESTABLISHED WITH THIS EARLY WARM SEASON 4 DAY RAIN EVENT. THE SALISBURY NEWBURYPORT CO-OPERATIVE OBSERVER MONTHLY TOTAL FOR MAY THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY MAY 19TH...WAS 19.94 INCHES...AND WELL ABOVE THE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN MONTH OF MAY STATE RECORD OF 13.6 INCHES SET IN MAY 1984 AT PERU. THE NWS METAR SITE AT BEVERLY ALSO EASILY EXCEEDED THIS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN RECORD FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND WAS 16.60 INCHES AS OF 8 AM THURSDAY THE 25TH. ALSO EMBEDDED WITHIN THE DATA BELOW OF THIS REPORT ARE DAILY RECORDS SET THIS PAST WEEKEND AT BOSTON /MAY 13 AND 14 RESPECTIVELY/. OF EVEN GREATER IMPORTANCE FOR BOSTON CLIMATOLOGY ARE THE MULTI CONSECUTIVE DAY TOTALS. BOSTONS 8.49 INCHES THAT OCCURRED OVER 4 CALENDAR DAYS ENDING MAY 16TH IS FOURTH HIGHEST 96 HOUR TOTAL IN ALL OF THE BOSTON DATABASE DATING BACK TO 1872. THE RECORD IS THE 12.47 INCHES FOR THE 4 DAY PERIOD ENDING AUGUST 20TH 1955. WHEN YOU CAREFULLY REVIEW THE DATA....THE SECOND AND THIRD RANKING 4 CONSECUTIVE DAY RAINFALLS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS AUGUST 1955 TROPICAL STORM DIANE. IN ESSENCE THEN...IN 134 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS RECORD KEEPING FOR BOSTON...THIS WAS THE SECOND LARGEST 4 DAY RAINFALL EVER! THE 72 HOUR CALENDAR DAY 7.98 INCHES AT BOSTON WAS THE THIRD RANKED SEPARATE EVENT EPISODE BEHIND THE 7.99 INCHES ENDING OCTOBER 22 1996 AND THE MASSIVE 12.47 INCHES ENDING AUGUST 19 1955. THE 48 HOUR CALENDAR DAY 7.61 INCHES AT BOSTON RANKED 4TH BEHIND ENDING 8/19/55 11.94 ENDING 10/21/96 7.89 ENDING 9/17/33 7.83 AND FINALLY FOR BOSTON...THE MONTHLY MAY TOTAL OF 12.21 INCHES AS OF 8 AM THIS THURSDAY MORNING THE 25TH IS NOW ONLY 1.16 INCHES SHY OF THE RECORD AND RANKS NUMBER 2 ALL TIME FOR MAY...AT BOSTON. IT IS ALSO THE 4TH WETTEST MONTHLY TOTAL IN BOSTON RECORDS DATING BACK TO 1872. TOPS IS THE 17.09 INCHES IN AUGUST 1955 FOLLOWED BY THE 13.38 INCHES IN MAY 1954 AND THE 13.2 INCHES IN JUNE 1982. THE BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY IN MILTON MASSACHUSETTS DID NOT HAVE NEARLY AS MUCH RAIN AS NEARBY BOSTON YET A NEW MONTH OF MAY RECORD HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THAT 635 FOOT ABOVE SEA LEVEL SITE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BOSTON. THE 9.59 INCHES AS OF 8 AM THIS MORNING THE 25TH SURPASSES THE PREVIOUS 9.16 INCH RECORD SET IN 1954. DAILY RECORDS ALSO OCCURRED THERE ON THE 13TH AND 14TH. THE MAY 2006 STORM COMPARES FAVORABLY TO THE OCTOBER 20-22 1996 EVENT FOR NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS IN THAT BOTH HAD LARGE AND NEARLY STATIONARY LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS SOUTH OF OUR LATITUDE THAT ON SATELLITE IMAGERY APPEARED TO INGEST A PLUME OF TROPICAL MOISTURE WITHIN THE VAST CONVEYOR OF ONSHORE ATLANTIC FLOW. A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF RAINFALL AND RIVER STAGE INFORMATION SUGGESTS THIS MAY 2006 EVENT WAS A CLEARLY MORE SEVERE FOR PORTIONS OF ESSEX COUNTY IN NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS THAN THE OCTOBER 1996 EVENT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS APPEARED TO BE SLIGHTLY HEAVIER AND FLOOD OF RECORD STAGES WERE REACHED ON THE PARKER IPSWICH AND SAUGUS RIVERS IN ESSEX COUNTY OF THE NORTHEAST TIP OF MASSACHUSETTS...HIGHER READINGS THAN IN OCTOBER 1996. HOWEVER...THE INTENSITY OF THE RAIN THIS WEEKEND MAY HAVE BEEN SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THAT OF THE OCTOBER 96 EVENT. A POSSIBLY IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 1996 AND 2006... ANTECEDENT GROUND CONDITIONS FOR THE FIRST 11 DAYS OF MAY 2006 SHOWED MONTHLY TOTALS IN THE 3 TO 6 INCH RANGE. BACK IN 1996...A QUICK SURVEY OF MIDDLETON HAVERHILL AND BOSTON DAILY DATA SHOWED ONLY AROUND 2 INCHES OF RAIN...ALLOWING FOR A LITTLE DRIER PRESTORM SOIL CONDITION. AS OF SATURDAY MAY 20TH...THE MONTHLY TOTALS IN ESSEX COUNTY MASSACHUSETTS ARE ALREADY BETWEEN 15 AND NEARLY 20 INCHES AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. THE 6 PM FRIDAY MAY 19TH COOPERATIVE OBSERVER REPORT OF 19.94 INCHES AT SALISBURY-NEWBURYPORT CORROBORATES THE 19.41 INCHES AT ROCKPORT RECEIVED AT 6PM SATURDAY THE 20TH. OTHER HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT WERE REVIEWED WERE OCTOBER 2005 /INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND/. 10/20-22/1996 NORTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS NORTHWARD. JAN AND APRIL 1996 EVENTS SNOWMELT RELATED APRIL 1987 SNOWMELT RELATED 8/18-20/1955 DIANE RELATED WHICH STILL APPEARS TO BE THE AREA WIDE BENCHMARK FLOOD EVENT. 9/17-22/1938 THE HURRICANE OF SEPT 38...PRECEDED BY SEVERAL DAYS OF EXCESSIVE RAIN. 3/9-22/1936 WHICH WAS HEAVILY SNOWMELT RELATED. A LISTING OF ENTIRE MONTH OF MAY TOTALS OVER 13 INCHES IS AT THE END OF THIS REPORT. ********************STORM TOTAL RAINFALL******************** LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS RAINFALL OF (INCHES) MEASUREMENT CONNECTICUT ...HARTFORD COUNTY... BRISTOL 8.00 645 AM 5/13 SPOTTER UNIONVILLE 6.10 1020 AM 5/13 SPOTTER GRANBY 5.91 1106 PM 5/16 WINDSOR LOCKS 4.64 1012 AM 5/16 ASOS NEWINGTON 4.60 1030 PM 5/13 SPOTTER HARTFORD 3.75 1009 AM 5/25 BRAINARD ASOS ...TOLLAND COUNTY... TOLLAND 3.68 159 PM 5/14 SPOTTER MANSFIELD HOLLOW DAM 2.70 800 AM 5/13 COOP ...WINDHAM COUNTY... WILLIMANTIC 3.74 1002 AM 5/16 ASOS HAMPTON 2.70 800 AM 5/13 COOP MASSACHUSETTS ...BARNSTABLE COUNTY... PROVINCETOWN 6.10 1005 AM 5/16 AWOS EAST FALMOUTH 4.85 1133 AM 5/14 SPOTTER CHATHAM 3.97 1004 AM 5/16 ASOS HYANNIS 3.52 1014 AM 5/16 ASOS FALMOUTH 2.61 1003 AM 5/16 OTIS ANG ...BRISTOL COUNTY... NEW BEDFORD 5.50 600 PM 5/15 SPOTTER NORTON 5.32 944 AM 5/16 CO-OP NEW BEDFORD 4.86 1014 AM 5/16 ASOS MANSFIELD 4.78 222 PM 5/15 MAY TOTAL 7.02 TAUNTON 4.69 857 AM 5/16 ASOS TAUNTON 4.63 859 AM 5/17 NWS WEST MANSFIELD 4.15 925 PM 5/15 SPOTTER ACUSHNET 3.85 811 PM 5/14 SPOTTER FAIRHAVEN 3.20 100 PM 5/14 SPOTTER ...DUKES COUNTY... MARTHAS VINEYARD 3.92 957 AM 5/16 ASOS ...ESSEX COUNTY... NEWBURYPORT 14.47 921 AM 5/16 CO-OP ROCKPORT 12.64 315 PM 5/15 TOPSFIELD 12.60 503 PM 5/15 SPOTTER IPSWICH 12.46 515 PM 5/15 GLOUCESTER 11.75 1021 AM 5/15 SPOTTER SWAMPSCOTT 11.75 1023 AM 5/15 SPOTTER ANDOVER 11.60 1031 AM 5/15 BEVERLY 11.50 1017 AM 5/16 ASOS MARBLEHEAD 10.74 812 PM 5/15 SPOTTER SALEM 10.68 1019 AM 5/15 SALEM STATE METHUEN 9.19 1000 PM 5/15 SPOTTER LAWRENCE 9.06 1017 AM 5/16 ASOS ...FRANKLIN COUNTY... CONWAY 5.75 223 PM 5/15 CHARLEMONT 3.00 735 AM 5/13 SPOTTER GREENFIELD 2.81 921 AM 5/14 COOP NORTHFIELD 2.59 1100 AM 5/14 SPOTTER SUNDERLAND 2.42 947 AM 5/14 COOP ORANGE 1.88 1001 AM 5/16 ASOS ...HAMPDEN COUNTY... SOUTHWICK 4.80 253 PM 5/14 SPOTTER WESTFIELD 3.98 1012 AM 5/16 ASOS CHICOPEE 2.85 1011 AM 5/16 WESTOVER AFB SPRINGFIELD 2.25 100 PM 5/13 SPOTTER WEST SPRINGFIELD 2.05 1151 AM 5/14 HAM RADIO ...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY... GOSHEN 4.50 612 AM 5/13 WILLIAMSBURG 4.10 222 PM 5/15 WORTHINGTON 3.93 1043 AM 5/16 CO-OP WESTHAMPTON 3.80 748 AM 5/13 SPOTTER WARE 2.37 103 PM 5/14 SPOTTER AMHERST 2.21 800 AM 5/14 COOP ...MIDDLESEX COUNTY... WAKEFIELD 11.19 621 PM 5/15 SPOTTER NORTH CAMBRIDGE 8.99 221 PM 5/15 BILLERICA 8.47 1000 PM 5/15 SPOTTER STONEHAM 8.47 727 AM 5/15 SPOTTER NORTH TEWKSBURY 7.66 722 PM 5/14 SPOTTER BELMONT 7.60 500 PM 5/15 SPOTTER TYNGSBORO 7.40 123 PM 5/15 WAYLAND 7.37 925 AM 5/16 HUDSON 7.36 825 PM 5/15 SPOTTER LOWELL 7.02 1042 AM 5/15 SPOTTER TEWKSBURY 6.38 650 AM 5/15 HAM RADIO CHELMSFORD 6.15 703 AM 5/15 SPOTTER PEPPERELL 5.99 705 PM 5/15 SPOTTER BEDFORD 5.61 1016 AM 5/16 ASOS AYER 4.86 1039 AM 5/15 ...NANTUCKET COUNTY... NANTUCKET 1.89 1004 AM 5/16 ASOS ...NORFOLK COUNTY... MILTON 5.64 1013 AM 5/16 BLUE HILL OBS ASOS RANDOLPH 4.75 905 PM 5/15 SPOTTER STOUGHTON 4.65 717 PM 5/15 SPOTTER SHARON 4.59 1034 AM 5/15 DEDHAM 4.45 752 AM 5/15 SPOTTER MILLIS 4.40 255 PM 5/14 SPOTTER NORWOOD 4.12 1015 AM 5/16 ASOS EAST WALPOLE 2.65 1052 AM 5/15 ...PLYMOUTH COUNTY... SCITUATE 10.20 854 PM 5/16 HINGHAM 7.93 706 AM 5/15 SPOTTER DUXBURY 6.01 1136 AM 5/15 SPOTTER EAST BRIDGEWATER 5.50 1033 AM 5/15 PLYMOUTH 4.76 1015 AM 5/16 ASOS BROCKTON 4.55 1033 AM 5/15 MARION 4.00 1037 AM 5/15 ...SUFFOLK COUNTY... WINTHROP 10.93 255 PM 5/15 EAST BOSTON 8.86 1000 AM 5/16 LOGAN AIRPORT ASOS DORCHESTER 8.70 1030 PM 5/14 HAM RADIO ...WORCESTER COUNTY... FITCHBURG 5.02 954 AM 5/16 ASOS WORCESTER 4.18 1016 AM 5/16 ASOS ASHBURNHAM 4.10 942 AM 5/16 CO-OP ROYALSTON 3.22 905 AM 5/16 CO-OP WEST BOYLSTON 3.10 500 PM 5/13 HAM RADIO GRAFTON 2.81 805 AM 5/13 SPOTTER NORTH GRAFTON 2.59 926 AM 5/14 SPOTTER NEW HAMPSHIRE ...CHESHIRE COUNTY... KEENE 2.85 758 AM 5/15 NWS COOP FITZWILLIAM 2.70 120 PM 5/15 SWANZEY 2.32 1119 AM 5/15 NH DOT ...HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY... MANCHESTER 11.05 1023 AM 5/15 SPOTTER GOFFSTOWN 10.99 700 AM 5/15 MANCHESTER 9.23 1008 AM 5/16 ASOS SOUTH WEARE 8.40 625 PM 5/14 SPOTTER HUDSON 7.89 1147 AM 5/16 CO-OP NASHUA 6.90 1007 AM 5/16 AWOS FRANCESTOWN 6.43 655 PM 5/14 CO-OP RHODE ISLAND ...KENT COUNTY... WARWICK 4.67 1000 AM 5/16 ASOS ...NEWPORT COUNTY... NEWPORT 5.03 959 AM 5/16 ASOS TIVERTON 3.99 707 AM 5/17 ...PROVIDENCE COUNTY... SMITHFIELD 3.85 956 AM 5/16 AWOS NORTH FOSTER 2.96 1040 PM 5/14 CO-OP ...WASHINGTON COUNTY... WESTERLY 4.22 958 AM 5/16 ASOS NORTH KINGSTOWN 4.13 930 AM 5/15 SPOTTER BLOCK ISLAND 3.27 955 AM 5/16 AWOS ...................... MONTH OF MAY MASSACHUSETTS TOTALS GREATER THAN 13 INCHES AS SURVEYED THROUGH METARS...SKYWARN AND WEBENTRY ESSEX COUNTY SALISBURY-NEWBURYPORT 19.94 6 PM 10/19 ROCKPORT 19.41 6 PM 10/20 IPSWICH 19.26 7 AM 10/20 BEVERLY ASOS 16.60 8 AM 10/25 MARBLEHEAD 15.79 9 PM 10/19 PEABODY 14.74 9 PM 10/19 WEST PEABODY 14.60 9 PM 10/19 LYNN 14.48 7 AM 10/20 LAWRENCE ASOS 13.11 8 AM 10/25 PLYMOUTH COUNTY HINGHAM 13.36 5 PM 10/19 WORCESTER COUNTY GRAFTON 13.32 8 AM 10/20 MAY NEW HAMPSHIRE TOTALS HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY GOFFSTOWN 14.12 830 PM 10/19 GREENLAND IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY OF SOUTHEAST NEW HAMPSHIRE HAD 17.69 INCHES AS OF ABOUT 6AM FRIDAY THE 19TH. $$