Severe thunderstorms moved through most of the Bay State, ahead of a cold front moving east from the Great Lakes. The thunderstorms initially downed trees and wires in western and central Massachusetts, from Amherst and West Springfield to Hardwick, Sterling, Northborough, and Southborough. A nine year old child was injured in Northborough and there was some structural damage to a shopping center on Route 9. There were also reports of large hail including penny sized hail in Sterling and Northborough, quarter sized hail in Webster, and quarter to half dollar sized hail in West Boylston.Lightning also caused considerable damage in central Massachusetts. A large tree was struck by lightning in Spencer which traveled into a nearby house, igniting a fire that left the home uninhabitable. Lightning also struck the radio tower of the Massachusetts State Police barracks in Charlton, severely damaging the radio communication system. No injuries were reported in either case.As the thunderstorms reached eastern Massachusetts, they produced wind damage from the Merrimack Valley into Boston and parts of the South Shore. Many trees were downed from Chelmsford to Lowell and Cape Ann. A National Weather Service Damage Survey conducted in Lowell concluded that a microburst with wind speeds estimated near 70 mph caused considerable damage. Numerous pine trees were snapped near their tops to about one-third of the way down. A car was flattened by a fallen tree at a baseball field along Pawtucket Boulevard just to the west of the water treatment plant. Damage also occurred on Varnum Avenue, one street farther north.In Greater Boston, a wind gust to 60 mph was observed at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton. Trees and wires were reported down from Chelsea and Boston to West Roxbury, Dedham, and Needham. A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail in Stoughton. As the storms reach the South Shore, they continued to produce wind damage. Trees and wires were brought down in Hingham, Brockton, Taunton, Hanson, Whitman, and Kingston.

Thunderstorm Wind in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:54:00 to 21-MAY-06 18:15:00 (EST)
Location: HINGHAM
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:58:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:58:00 (EST)
Location: SALEM
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:58:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:05:00 (EST)
Location: NORTHBOROUGH
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 50K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:14:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:14:00 (EST)
Location: WEBSTER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:58:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:59:00 (EST)
Location: PEABODY
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:15:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:25:00 (EST)
Location: FRAMINGHAM
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:20:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:30:00 (EST)
Location: CHELMSFORD CENTER
Magnitude: 61 EG
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Thunderstorm Wind in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:32:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:40:00 (EST)
Location: MILTON
Magnitude: 52 MG
Property damage: 15K
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Hail in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:45:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:45:00 (EST)
Location: STOUGHTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in SUFFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:35:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:41:00 (EST)
Location: CHELSEA
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 8K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 18:07:00 to 21-MAY-06 18:07:00 (EST)
Location: TAUNTON
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Lightning in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 17:30:00 to 21-MAY-06 17:30:00 (EST)
Location: CHARLTON
Property damage: 75K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Lightning in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:45:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:45:00 (EST)
Location: SPENCER
Property damage: 100K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:15:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:15:00 (EST)
Location: PELHAM
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:20:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:20:00 (EST)
Location: HARDWICK
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 8K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:25:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:25:00 (EST)
Location: MONSON
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 8K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMPDEN, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:45:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:49:00 (EST)
Location: WEST SPRINGFIELD
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 12K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO

Hail in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 16:50:00 to 21-MAY-06 16:50:00 (EST)
Location: STERLING
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Thunderstorm Wind in HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 21-MAY-06 15:55:00 to 21-MAY-06 15:55:00 (EST)
Location: AMHERST
Magnitude: 50 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO