On the evening of May 15th a strong line of thunderstorms developed across Western New Hampshire ahead of an approaching cold front.  A well developed squall line formed bowing line segments which brought localized destructive wind damage to areas of the state with extensive tree damage in areas.

Lightning in CARROLL, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:45:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: MOULTONBORO
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Structure fire caused by lightning.

Lightning in BELKNAP, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 19:00:00 to 15-MAY-20 19:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MEREDITH
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

House struck by lightning and is on fire.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:22:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:27:00 (EST-5)
Location: HINSDALE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm downed trees and power lines on a vehicle.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:23:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:27:00 (EST-5)
Location: HINSDALE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm downed trees in Hinsdale.

Thunderstorm Wind in SULLIVAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:25:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:30:00 (EST-5)
Location: PUCKERSHIRE
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm downed trees onto wires east of Claremont.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:28:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:33:00 (EST-5)
Location: WINCHESTER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm downed multiple trees onto homes on Mechanic Street in Winchester.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:34:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:39:00 (EST-5)
Location: SWANZEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm downed multiple trees on Centerview Drive.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:35:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: EAST SWANZEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm downed a tree onto a private residents deck in South Swanzey on Warmac Road.

Thunderstorm Wind in SULLIVAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:35:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:40:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWPORT
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A strong thunderstorm downed multiple trees on Beech Street in Newport.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:40:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:45:00 (EST-5)
Location: SWANZEY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A severe thunderstorm caused multiple trees and wires down in Swanzey on State Route NH-32.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:45:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEW LONDON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A severe thunderstorm downed multiple trees on South Pleasant Street in New London.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:50:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: JAFFREY
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Severe thunderstorm winds caused multiple trees down on Wheeler Street in Jaffrey.

Thunderstorm Wind in HILLSBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 19:00:00 to 15-MAY-20 19:05:00 (EST-5)
Location: MT VERNON
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Severe Thunderstorm winds caused multiple trees and wires down on Weston Hill Road in Mount Vernon.

Thunderstorm Wind in HILLSBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:55:00 to 15-MAY-20 19:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: ANTRIM
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Severe thunderstorm winds caused multiple trees and wires down in Antrim.  A brush fire was also started due to the downed wires.

Thunderstorm Wind in STRAFFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 19:45:00 to 15-MAY-20 19:50:00 (EST-5)
Location: ROCHESTER
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Severe thunderstorm winds downed trees near Spaulding High School in Rochester.

Thunderstorm Wind in CHESHIRE, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:48:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:55:00 (EST-5)
Location: JAFFREY CENTER
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A bowing line segment occurred near Jaffrey.  While wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were
common all along the line of thunderstorms, at the apex of the bow echo wind gusts near Jaffrey likely peaked near 90 mph. Hundreds of mainly softwood and some hardwood trees were either uprooted or snapped along a roughly 1 mile path off Route 124. Some of these included large old growth pine trees snapped at the trunk. The
general unidirectional pattern of treefall along the path of the bow apex indicates that the damage was caused by an enhanced area of straight line, outflow winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERRIMACK, NEW HAMPSHIRE
From 15-MAY-20 18:52:00 to 15-MAY-20 18:57:00 (EST-5)
Location: WILMOT FLAT
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A strong bow signatures occurred near Wilmot in Merrimack County.
While wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph were common all along the line of thunderstorms, the apex of the bow echo and channeled flow in terrain allowed wind gusts near Wilmot to peak at 80 to 90 mph. Hundreds of softwood and hardwood trees were either uprooted or snapped along a roughly 1 mile path off Route 11 near Wilmot Flat. The general unidirectional pattern of treefall along the path of the bow apex indicates that the damage was caused by an enhanced area of straight line, outflow winds.