Cold temperatures aloft preceded a cold front through southern New England. This increased instability in the area and contributed to large hail forming in thunderstorms that occurred across the area. These storms largely affected southeastern Massachusetts and the coastal waters east of Cape Cod. The only wind damage that occurred was in the Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth where numerous trees were downed by strong winds.

Lightning in BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 11:11:00 to 16-AUG-08 11:11:00 (EST-5)
Location: PROVINCETOWN
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A housing complex on Bayberry Avenue was struck by lightning and caught fire.  Damage was limited to the outside of the building.

Hail in HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 16:01:00 to 16-AUG-08 16:01:00 (EST-5)
Location: KNIGHTS CORNER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Nickel size hail fell on Route 202.

Hail in HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 16:15:00 to 16-AUG-08 16:15:00 (EST-5)
Location: WARE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 16:10:00 to 16-AUG-08 16:10:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLYMOUTH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 16:25:00 to 16-AUG-08 16:25:00 (EST-5)
Location: PLYMOUTH ARPT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Several large trees and branches were blown down on the south side of Fearing Pond in Myles Standish State Forest.  Eyewitnesses reported waves up to two and a half feet tall formed on the small pond.  The strong winds from the northwest hit a steep embankment and a thick stand of pine trees 35 to 50 feet tall.  This resulted in a couple of small kayaks on the beach on the southeast corner of the pond being lifted up and blown ten to fifteen feet.  Numerous tents on the southside of the pond also were blown about 20 to 30 feet.  Numerous trees were blown down in the area of New Grassy Pond, a kettle pond that sits at the base of a bowl in the terrain.  Most of the damage occurred on the south side of the pond, though there were a couple of trees blown down on the north side of the pond.  The trees on the north side of the pond were downed from the winds circling around the edge of the bowl that the pond is sitting in.  This also resulted in the water in the pond being pushed out approximately two feet beyond the normal water line around the majority of the pond.  The only other damage consisted of some shingles being blown off a small cottage on the south side of Fearing Pond and a camping trailer on the southeast side of the pond that had two holes punctured in the roof from falling tree limbs.

Hail in BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 17:41:00 to 16-AUG-08 17:41:00 (EST-5)
Location: WELLFLEET
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Some vehicle damage occurred with quarter sized hail that fell in Wellfleet.

Hail in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 17:39:00 to 16-AUG-08 17:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: MANOMET
Magnitude: 2.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Golfball to lime sized hail fell in the Cedarville section of Plymouth.

Hail in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 16-AUG-08 17:29:00 to 16-AUG-08 17:31:00 (EST-5)
Location: NAMELOC HGTS
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail fell in a swath from the Cedarville section of Plymouth to the Sagamore Highlands.