Severe thunderstorms swept across much of eastern Massachusetts ahead of a cold front.  There were many reports of large hail, downed trees and wires.  Golf ball size hail was reported in Newton, which covered the ground up to one inch deep.  Half dollar size hail fell in Beverly, and hail as large as quarters fell in Wilmington, Stow, and Brighton.  Traffic was snarled for a time on Route 128 in Needham, when a thunderstorm produced dime size hail.  Quincy, Weymouth, and Hingham were especially hard hit by the storms, with numerous reports of trees falling on houses and cars.  Also in Quincy, lightning struck the roof of  a church, sending hundreds of pounds of stone crashing through the roof.  There were no injuries reported.

Hail in SUFFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:44:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:44:00 (EST)
Location: BRIGHTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:45:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:45:00 (EST)
Location: QUINCY
Magnitude: 50 E
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in SUFFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:00:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:00:00 (EST)
Location: FOREST HILLS
Magnitude: 50 E
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:39:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:39:00 (EST)
Location: NEEDHAM
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:25:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:32:00 (EST)
Location: NEWTON
Magnitude: 1.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 12:00:00 to 18-JUL-00 12:00:00 (EST)
Location: TOWNSEND
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 12:45:00 to 18-JUL-00 12:45:00 (EST)
Location: TOWNSEND
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 13:29:00 to 18-JUL-00 13:29:00 (EST)
Location: WESTFORD
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 13:55:00 to 18-JUL-00 13:55:00 (EST)
Location: WILMINGTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:30:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:30:00 (EST)
Location: HINGHAM
Magnitude: 50 E
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:37:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:40:00 (EST)
Location: MILTON
Magnitude: 55 E
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:52:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:52:00 (EST)
Location: SCITUATE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:52:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:52:00 (EST)
Location: SCITUATE
Magnitude: 50 E
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 16:08:00 to 18-JUL-00 16:08:00 (EST)
Location: SCITUATE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Lightning in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 15:00:00 to 18-JUL-00 15:00:00 (EST)
Location: QUINCY
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:02:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:02:00 (EST)
Location: STOW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:08:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:25:00 (EST)
Location: DANVERS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 18-JUL-00 14:10:00 to 18-JUL-00 14:10:00 (EST)
Location: SALEM
Magnitude: 50 E
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER