Tornado Watches, Warnings And Your Questions
BOSTON (CBS) - Several tornadoes touched down in Massachusetts on Wednesday as a bout of severe weather rolled through the area.
TORNADO TOUCHDOWNS IN MASSACHUSETTS
Several tornadoes touched down in Massachusetts on Wednesday. Extensive damage was reported from a twister in Springfield, and tornadoes also hit Westfield, Wilbraham, Sturbridge, Monson, Oxford and Agawam.
READ: More on the tornado touchdowns
TORNADO WATCH INFORMATION
A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for most of New England, excluding southeastern Mass until 8 p.m.
A tornado watch means that atmospheric conditions are ripe for tornadic development. It does NOT mean that any tornadoes are imminent. If that were the case a tornado warning would be issued.
MASSACHUSETTS TORNADO FACTS (prior to June 1, 2011):
Massachusetts has had 155 tornadoes since January 1950 (61 years). That comes to 2.5 a year. In the last 10 years the state has had 9 tornadoes. The last confirmed tornado was the Narragansett Bay Tornadic Waterspout (a bonafide tornado complete with rotation in the thunderstorm) that moved ashore near Warren and Bristol RI and then moved into South Swansea before lifting. That was an EF1. That last tornado was July 23 2008.
Related: What To Do In A Tornado
FORECAST
The best chance of severe weather today will be between 4-8 p.m. from Boston to Providence and areas north and west. Any storms that develop may contain heavy downpours, frequent and dangerous lightning, large hail and isolated tornadoes.
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Stay safe!
