Figure 1 depicts the surface observations at 8:00 am EDT, which shows a stationary front across southern Ontario and southerly winds across Massachusetts. Interactions with this front and possible sea-breeze could have helped trigger thunderstorms and ultimately, this tornado.
![](https://highwaysandhailstones.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Untitled-16.png)
The Hanscom Air Force Base F1 tornado of August 7, 1986 impacted Middlesex County in Massachusetts. According to NOAA (2019), the F1 tornado caused no fatalities or injuries, but caused $250 thousand dollars in property damage. The tornado touched down over Airport Road at 3:10 pm EDT. The tornado travelled for 4 miles and had a maximum width of 73 yards.
![](https://highwaysandhailstones.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/data_198608_403.png)
Sources
NOAA Central Library. (2020). U.S. Daily Weather Maps. Thursday August 7, 1986 [PDF]. Retrieved from https://library.noaa.gov/Collections/Digital-Collections/US-Daily-Weather-Maps
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2020). Storm Events Database. Retrieved from: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/