Areas in western and central Massachusetts are under a tornado watch that may expand throughout the day, with much of the state at risk of severe storms, according to National Weather Service warnings.
The tornado watch was issued for Berkshire County on Thursday morning and expanded to Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcester in the afternoon, as well as for parts of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York.
The watch extends through 7 p.m., according to NWS, forecasting a possible couple tornadoes, isolated hail up to a half inch size and likely scattered gusts up to 80 mph.
NWS forecasts predicted a “period of humid and unsettled weather” with two expected rounds of rainfall Thursday, a round of showers in the morning followed by a chance of strong to severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening. Primary threats listed are damaging winds and frequent lightning.
As of Thursday afternoon, the cities of Shelburne Falls, Cummington, Goshen, Leominster, Fitchburg and Gardner also fell under a severe thunderstorm warning.
The tornado watch may be extended throughout the day, NWS meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz warned, encouraging area residents to keep an eye on weather alerts Thursday. How far east the watch goes depends on how much clearing occurs throughout the day, he added, “because that sunshine is going to provide some fuel for the thunderstorms.”
“Currently we’re tracking a line of thunderstorms across western New York, those are going to quickly make their way east through much of the day,” Tarasiewicz said Thursday morning. “And so they’ll likely be in the western Massachusetts area right after lunchtime, between like 2 and 4 p.m. so it’ll be the greatest risk for severe thunderstorms and even possibly a tornado or two.”
The total tornado watch area across several states as of Thursday afternoon included over 7 million people, 2,247 schools, and 149 hospitals, NWS warned.
For the Boston area, he added, winds are expected to increase throughout the day ahead of the thunderstorms, with gusts likely up to the 40 mph range.
“Then between about 4 and 8 p.m., we could see a line of thunderstorms that can bring some damaging winds,” the meteorologist said. “That’s sort of the bigger threat for the Boston area, as opposed to those tornadoes out further west.”
Massachusetts generally sees an average of two tornadoes a year, according to NWS data. The ingredients in place Thursday were “change of wind direction with height, resulting in a spin in the air, and then enough instability or fuel for thunderstorms,” Tarasiewicz explained.
“Something you want to pay attention to,” said Tarasiewicz. “And if you do receive tornado warning, ideally, if you have a basement, you’ll want to head down there. If you do not have a basement, an interior room in your building suffices as well.”
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In case of a tornado, NWS recommends getting to a “basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level;” putting as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible; avoiding windows; not waiting until you see the tornado as it may be obscured; leaving mobile homes well in advance of the storm; and limiting outdoor plans or finishing them early. More recommendations are available on the NWS Tornado Safety Rules page.
“With the strong winds, power outages are possible,” said Tarasiewicz. “Certainly, folks, if they can charge up their phones now, have a way to get those weather warnings, especially as we get close to the afternoon as this area of thunderstorms approaches.”
The Boston Harbor and wide ranging waters off the New England coast were also placed under a gale warning into Thursday night, with gusts up to 40 knots and waves expected up to nine feet, NWS stated. The strong winds and hazardous waves “could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility,” the warning adds, urging mariners to get to port, seek safe harbor, alter course or secure vessel for severe conditions.
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