Seth Kellogg,Marjorie W. Rines,and Robert H. Stymeist
The first six days of September averaged 88˚ with a high of 93˚ on September 2. A dramatic drop of 16˚ on September 7 was accompanied by a severe thunderstorm that uprooted many trees, caused power outages, and claimed the lives of two women who were struck by lightning at Crane Beach in Ipswich. Microbursts brought significant rainfall in Essex County, and the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Franklin County, but the Boston area escaped. Total precipitation for the month was only .07” almost three inches below normal. Summer made a comeback during the last weekend of the month with a high of 87˚ in Boston.
October temperatures averaged 56˚ degrees in Boston, two degrees above average. The high was 81˚on October 15, and the low was 39˚ on October 20. A powerful nor’easter from October 22 through 24 caused a great deal of coastal damage with strong winds and as much as six inches of rain. Beverly Airport reported 6.13 inches, Brockton noted 5.03 inches, and Wakefield had 4.21 inches. Winds gusted to over 60 mph at Scituate.
R. Stymeist