Alert archive / Massachusetts / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

July 26, 2011Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this tornado warning at Jul 26, 2011, 4:28 PM EDT for Hampden County, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It was in force for 47 min. 10 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jul 26, 2011, 4:28 PM EDT (20:28 UTC)
Expired
Jul 26, 2011, 5:15 PM EDT
In force
47 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Hampden County, MA, Hampshire County, MA

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 108 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:28 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jul 26, 4:30 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Chicopee, MAGOLF BALL SIZE HAIL
Jul 26, 4:33 PM EDTHAIL 0.75Chicopee, MA0.75 INCH HAIL REPORTED BY OBSERVER AT CEF.
Jul 26, 4:35 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGChicopee, MATREES DOWN ON FULLER ROAD AND THE ROUTE 33 AREA. TREES DOWN ON WESTOVER ROAD. HOME DEPOT ON ROUTE 33 HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO SHEDS AND DISPLAYS. NO POWER IN THE AREA AND THE STORE IS CLOSED. TREES AND LARGE BRANCHES DOWN ON LEO DRIVE.
Jul 26, 4:36 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGChicopee, MATREES DOWN ON FULLER ROAD
Jul 26, 4:42 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGLudlow, MATREES DOWN ACROSS WIRES
Jul 26, 4:42 PM EDTHAIL 1.75Ludlow, MA
Jul 26, 4:43 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGWilbraham, MAMANY TREES DOWN IN TOWN INCLUDING NEAR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAIN STREET SHUT DOWN DUE TO DOWNED TREES.
Jul 26, 4:43 PM EDTHAIL 1Wilbraham, MA
Jul 26, 4:55 PM EDTTSTM WND DMGMonson, MAMANY TREES DOWN INCLUDING SOME INTO HOUSES ON WOBURN ROAD AND MAIN STREET. WIRES DOWN ON BOSTON ROAD.
Jul 26, 4:55 PM EDTHAIL 1.25Monson, MAQUARTER TO HALF DOLLAR SIZED HAIL

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 26, 2:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Albany, NY (KALY), launched 12:00Z, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 129 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-07-26Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 72 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Albany, NY at 12:00Z on 2011-07-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 5 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
72 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-57 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
611 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

384 
WFUS51 KBOX 262028
TORBOX
MAC013-015-262115-
/O.NEW.KBOX.TO.W.0011.110726T2028Z-110726T2115Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
428 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN HAMPDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CHICOPEE...
  SOUTH CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...

* UNTIL 515 PM EDT

* AT 424 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR CHICOPEE...
  MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...LUDLOW...WILBRAHAM...PALMER
  AND MONSON.

WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS A
TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP
SHORTLY. TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF A STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME...A VEHICLE
OR OUTDOORS...MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4221 7227 4206 7231 4218 7263 4225 7259
TIME...MOT...LOC 2027Z 284DEG 14KT 4219 7252

$$

NOCERA
3 follow-up statements
783 
WWUS51 KBOX 262040
SVSBOX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

MAC013-015-262115-
/O.CON.KBOX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110726T2115Z/
HAMPSHIRE MA-HAMPDEN MA-
440 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT FOR EASTERN
HAMPDEN AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES...

AT 438 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUED TO 
INDICATE A TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR WILBRAHAM...OR 
NEAR SPRINGFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO PALMER 
AND MONSON.  MANY TREES ARE DOWN IN SPRINGFIELD AND THERE HAVE BEEN 
REPORTS OF A FUNNEL CLOUD.  ALSO ONE INCH HAIL WAS REPORTED IN 
SPRINGFIELD. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4220 7228 4206 7231 4215 7254 4221 7251
TIME...MOT...LOC 2038Z 292DEG 16KT 4213 7245

$$

NOCERA
738 
WWUS51 KBOX 262057
SVSBOX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
457 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

MAC015-262106-
/O.CAN.KBOX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110726T2115Z/
HAMPSHIRE MA-
457 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

LAT...LON 4206 7231 4212 7245 4215 7243 4214 7229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 292DEG 16KT 4210 7235

$$

MAC013-262115-
/O.CON.KBOX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110726T2115Z/
HAMPDEN MA-
457 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 515 PM EDT FOR EAST
CENTRAL HAMPDEN COUNTY...

AT 453 PM EDT...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED NEAR MONSON...OR 9 MILES 
EAST OF SPRINGFIELD...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

&&

LAT...LON 4206 7231 4212 7245 4215 7243 4214 7229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2056Z 292DEG 16KT 4210 7235

$$

NOCERA
289 
WWUS51 KBOX 262110
SVSBOX

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
510 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

MAC013-262120-
/O.EXP.KBOX.TO.W.0011.000000T0000Z-110726T2115Z/
HAMPDEN MA-
510 PM EDT TUE JUL 26 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL HAMPDEN COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
515 PM EDT...

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT
TUESDAY EVENING FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND
SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.

LAT...LON 4206 7231 4212 7245 4215 7243 4214 7229
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 292DEG 16KT 4208 7227

$$


NOCERA

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 26, 3:13 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire62 min
Jul 26, 4:09 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire66 min
Jul 26, 4:10 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementBOXFranklin65 min
Jul 26, 4:14 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXFranklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester99 min
Jul 26, 4:15 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden, Hampshire60 min
Jul 26, 4:51 PM EDTTornado WarningBOXHampden, Worcester39 min
Jul 26, 4:52 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXHampden53 min
Jul 26, 4:59 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXHampden, Worcester98 min
Jul 26, 5:26 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXWorcester106 min
Jul 26, 5:30 PM EDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBOXNorfolk, Worcester45 min
Jul 26, 6:22 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Middlesex, Norfolk, Worcester53 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Massachusetts, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.