An upper level closed low over southern Ontario tracked across Quebec while at the surface, a cold front over western New York crossed southern New England in the evening of June 1. An environment characterized by high CAPE (2000-3000 J/kg) and high shear (greater than 200 m2/s2) was in place across western Massachusetts.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.
An upper level closed low over southern Ontario tracked across Quebec while at the surface, a cold front over western New York crossed southern New England in the evening of June 1. An environment characterized by high CAPE (2000-3000 J/kg) and high shear (greater than 200 m2/s2) was in place across western Massachusetts. In addition, mid level lapse rates were an impressive 7 to 8 C/km. Thunderstorms forming ahead of the front organized into discrete supercells in an environment highly favorable for tornado formation.
While convection fired early in the day along a weak low level theta-e ridge across north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, clearing allowed for rapid destabilization in the afternoon.
Thunderstorms developed during the morning ahead of the cold front from eastern Pennsylvania into southeast New York and Vermont. By about 3 pm, the storms entered western Massachusetts and were in the form of discrete supercells. By 4 pm, several supercells had developed across southern Vermont, southwest New Hampshire, and western Massachusetts. At that time, the supercell which eventually produced the most significant tornado entered Hampden County from the Berkshires. This cell produced what was evaluated to be an EF-3 tornado touching down in Westfield and continuing on a 38 mile long trek through West Springfield, Springfield, Wilbraham, Monson, Brimfield, and Sturbridge. This tornado was on the ground for an estimated 70 minutes.
About two hours later, another supercell tracked just to the north of the storm track of the EF3 tornado. While its rotation was not as strong, it produced brief tornadoes in Wilbraham (EF1), North Brimfield (EF1), and Sturbridge (EF0).
While the focus was certainly on the tornadoes and their damage, damaging winds, large hail up to two inches in diameter, and some flash flooding also occurred across southern New England.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 1, 12:32 PM EST, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
132 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
WARM AND HUMID CONDITIONS RETURN TODAY AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING
COLD FRONT. THIS WILL BRING SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...MAINLY
TO INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WHERE SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG
TO SEVERE. THE FRONT WILL PUSH OFFSHORE TONIGHT WITH A COOLER
AIRMASS OVERSPREADING THE REGION THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ALONG WITH
DRY CONDITIONS. MAINLY DRY WEATHER ALONG WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL SHOULD PERSIST INTO THE WEEKEND AND EARLY
NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HAIL UP TO 3/4 INCH DEVELOPED ACROSS E
MA/S NH EARLY THIS MORNING. SHOWERS/TSTMS MOVING ACROSS E COASTAL
MA/E RI THROUGH AROUND 15Z AS THEY EXIT THE COAST.
PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS...
NOT MUCH CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS FORECAST. LINE OF CONVECTION ACROSS
NY STATE FIRING ON WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND ON THE NOSE OF LOW-
MID LEVEL JET APPROACHING FROM ONTARIO. STORMS ARE BEGINNING TO
SHOW SIGNS OF WEAKENING AS LINE OF CONVECTION OUT RUNS GREATEST
DEEP LAYER SHEAR FARTHER TO THE WEST. THUS THESE STORMS WILL
LIKELY WEAKEN INTO A BROKEN LINE OF SHOWERS BY 8-9 AM ACROSS
WESTERN MA AND SOUTHWEST NH.
OTHER ITEM IS AREA OF DENSE FOG ACROSS LONG ISLAND/CT AND NOW
ADVECTING INTO RI WITH PVD DOWN TO 1/4 MILE. EXPECT THIS FOG TO
BURN OFF LATER THIS MORNING AS STRONG JUNE SUNSHINE GOES TO WORK
IN THE ABSENCE OF MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION BELOW.
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OVER THE NEXT 12 HRS CONCERNING THE
CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL ALONG AND AHEAD OF A SFC COLD FRONT. LETS BEGIN
WITH THE STRAIGHT-FORWARD DETAILS...S/SW FLOW WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF
THE COLD FRONT WITH ANTICIPATED GUSTS AROUND 25 MPH ADVECTING VERY
WARM...MOIST AND SULTRY AIR ACROSS THE RGN...WITH DEWPOINTS RANGING
AROUND THE MID 60S. ANTICIPATING CONVECTIVE DEBRIS OUT OF THE GRT
LKS RGN TO DISSIPATE THANKS IN PART TO THE INFLUENTIAL SFC RIDGE OF
HIGH PRES GRADUALLY SLINKING SEWD...THOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE THE
CASE ACROSS UPSTATE NY INTO NRN NEW ENGLAND WHERE BETTER DYNAMICS
RESIDE. IN ADDITION PRESENT LOW CLOUDS ACROSS SRN NEW ENGLAND TO
MIX OUT AFTER SUNRISE...AS SUCH WOULD EXPECT AN ABUNDANCE OF
SUNSHINE...AND H925 TEMPS AVERAGING AROUND +22C AHEAD OF THE COLD
FRONT...TO ALLOW SFC TEMPS TO RISE INTO THE MID TO UPR 80S ACROSS
THE INTERIOR...WITH SOME LOCALES CLOSE TO 90...WHILE CLOSER TO
SHORE UPR 70S TO LOW 80S EXPECTED. YET...FOR THE MORNING
PERIOD...THERE IS STILL SOME LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY AS THE MID-LVL
WARM FRONT LIFTS THRU THE RGN COUPLED WITH A REGION OF STRONG
MOIST CONVERGENCE AND ISENTROPIC LIFT AIDED BY STRONG SW FLOW...SO
CANT RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME DEVELOPING MID-LVL DECKS OUT
OF THE SW THRU THE MORNING PERIOD. THIS SW FLOW WILL ALSO ADVECT
MUCH WARMER AIR ACROSS THE RGN...AS PREV MENTIONED WITH THE +22C
AIR AT H925...ACTING TO EFFECTIVELY CAP THE LLVLS.
NOW TO SHIFT FOCUS TOWARDS THE PRESENT THINKING FOR TODAYS
CONVECTIVE OUTCOMES. WITH AFOREMENTIONED INVERSION HOVERING AROUND
H9...NOT ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT SFC TEMPS WILL WARM EFFECTIVELY
TO ALLOW FOR SFC BASED CONVECTION...RATHER FEEL ANY CONVECTION WILL
BE ELEVATED...OR RATHER FORCED BY THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. CAPE
VALUES AVERAGE AROUND 2500 J/KG BY AFTN AS LAPSE RATES AT MID-LVLS
WILL BE FAIRLY STEEP AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE STRONG THETAE
ADVECTION IN THE VICINITY OF THE H9 INVERSION. CAPE ITSELF...PER MDL
SKEW-T SOUNDINGS...STILL APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY TALL AND SKINNY
EMPHASIZING THE POTENTIAL FOR ENTRAINMENT OF DRIER AIR FROM THE
DEPARTING RIDGE OF HIGH PRES...AND WHETHER UPDRAFTS WILL MAINTAIN.
ALSO FEEL THE POSSIBILITY FOR LARGE HAIL WILL BE REDUCED AS SUCH. AS
TO SHEAR...BETTER DYNAMICS RESIDE WITH THE MAIN SHRTWV MAX AND
ATTENDANT H3 JET STREAK ACROSS NRN NEW ENGLAND. NEVERTHELESS 0-6KM
BULK SHEAR VALUES AVERAGE AROUND 40 KTS ACROSS THE FCST RGN...WITH
AN AVERAGE 30 KT FLOW AT 0-3 KM...AND DIRECTIONAL SHEAR FOR BOTH
LEVELS HAS A SUBSTANTIAL PERPENDICULAR COMPONENT TO THE SFC COLD
FRONT SUPPORTING A MORE DISCREET OUTCOME OVER A CONGLOMERATING
SQUALL-LINE SOLN...YET CANT RULE OUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A
SQUALL-LINE LATE IN THE PERIOD. BOTH MDL SOUNDING HODOGRAPHS AND
0-1/0-3 KM HELICITY VALUES OF 200 M2/S2 SUPPORT THE POTENTIAL FOR
SUSTAINABLE ROTATING UPDRAFTS.
SO TAKING ALL POINTS INTO ACCOUNT...FEEL THERE IS STILL A FAIRLY
GOOD LIKELIHOOD OF A SEVERE WEATHER OUTCOME ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE
SFC COLD FRONT AS OUTLINED BY THE LATEST SPC DAY 1 CONVECTIVE
OUTLOOK. MAIN THREATS FOR TODAY WILL BE SMALL HAIL...FREQUENT
LIGHTNING...AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DAMAGING WINDS AS THERE IS LIKELY
TO BE STRONG MID-LVL SW FLOW RANGING AROUND 50 MPH THAT CAN EASILY
MIX DOWN TO THE SFC PER A STRONG DOWNWARD CORE OF PRECIP. WILL NEED
TO WATCH FOR PSBL LOCALIZED FLOODING FROM STRONG STORMS AS PWATS
ACROSS THE RGN WILL AVERAGE AROUND 1.5 INCHES. BETTER CHCS FOR
SEVERE WEATHER WILL LIKELY BE ACROSS THE INTERIOR AS COOLER MORE
STABLE AIR WILL BE PRESENT OVER SE NEW ENGLAND. MOST OF THE
CONVECTION WILL LIKELY OCCUR BEGINNING AROUND THE MIDDAY PERIOD INTO
THE AFTN.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY/...
*TONIGHT...
SFC COLD FRONT WILL SLIDE OFFSHORE AND MOST OF THE CONVECTION SHOULD
DISSIPATE AS LLVLS COOL AND ELEVATED CONVECTION CHCS DISSIPATE AS
DRIER AIR AND HIGH PRES QUICKLY MOVE IN AT THE LOW LVLS IN WAKE OF
THE FRONT. STRONG CAA WILL ALSO PREVAIL WITH H925 TEMPS FALLING TO
AN AVERAGE OF +10C OVER THE FCST RGN WITH WINDS SHIFTING OUT OF THE
W/NW. WENT WITH THE COOLER SIDE OF MOS GUIDE WITH MINS FALLING INTO
THE LOW TO MID 50S THRU THE INTERIOR...WARMER TOWARDS THE SHORE.
*THURSDAY...
A CONSIDERABLY COOLER DAY AS HIGH PRES CONTINUES TO BUILD INTO THE
RGN WITH MUCH COOLER AIR. WITH COOLING AT MID-LVLS THIS WILL ACT TO
LOWER HEIGHTS RESULTING IN THE DEPARTING UPR LVL LOW AND ASSOC
VORTMAX TO DIG SWD THRU THE RGN. WILL SEE ATTENDANT CYCLONIC FLOW
AND COOL/MOIST AIR TO SPILL OVER THE RGN ALONG WITH AN ASSOC H3 JET
MAX SUPPORTING DIVERGENCE OVER THE RGN. AS SUCH ANTICIPATE THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A DENSE STRATOCU LAYER OVER THE RGN LIKELY LENDING TO
DECREASED WARMING THRU THE DAY...COULD POTENTIALLY SEE A COOLING
TREND...UNDER STRONG NW FLOW GUSTING AT TIMES 25 TO 30 MPH. CANT
RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL FOR DRIZZLE/LIGHT RAIN ESPECIALLY ALONG
HIGHER TERRAIN WHERE OROGRAPHIC FORCING WILL PLAY A SIGNIFICANT
ROLE. HAVE GONE WITH THE VERY LOW END OF MOS GUIDANCE WITH MAX TEMPS
RANGING IN THE LOW TO MID 60S FOR THE N/NW FCST RGN...WITH LOW 70S
ALONG THE SHORE.
&&
.LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
HIGHLIGHTS...
* MAINLY DRY WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES AT OR SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL
MUCH OF THIS PERIOD.
MODEL PREFERENCES...
VERY GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT AMONG THE ECMWF/ECENS...NAM AND GFS ON
THE LARGE SCALE FLOW THIS PERIOD WITH THE CURRENT EASTERN WARM
CORE RIDGE BEING REPLACED BY A COOLER LONG WAVE TROF SETTING UP
OVER SOUTHEAST CANADA. HOWEVER ALL MODEL GUIDANCE KEEPS THIS NEW MID
LEVEL MEAN TROF AXIS EAST OF NEW ENGLAND...PROMOTING MAINLY DRY
WEATHER. BY SUNDAY THE ECMWF AND GFS BEGIN TO DIFFER WITH THE
ECMWF AND ITS ENSEMBLES FARTHER EAST WITH THE SOUTHEAST CANADA
TROF...WHILE THE 00Z GFS IS FARTHER WEST WITH THIS TROF AND
SUGGEST COMMAHEAD/TROWAL PRECIP FROM THE MARITIMES POSSIBLY
ROTATING INTO NEW ENGLAND SUN/MON. GIVEN THE GEFS AND THE 50
MEMBER ENSEMBLE MEAN OF THE ECENS SUPPORTS THE DRY SOLUTION OF THE
OPERATIONAL ECMWF...WILL LEAN TOWARD DRY WX SUN/MON/TUE.
THE DAILY DETAILS...
THU NIGHT AND FRI...
SIGNIFICANT COOL DOWN WITH CLOSED LOW OVER THE MARITIMES CIRCULATING
A MUCH COOLER AIRMASS INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WITH 850 TEMPS
CRASHING FROM +18C THIS AFTERNOON TO +1C THU NIGHT! DEFINITELY A
TOUCH OF FALL IN THE AIR FRI MORNING WITH LOWS IN THE U30S AND
L40S...EXCEPT NEAR 50 IN THE URBAN AREAS. IN FACT THERE IS A LOW
PROBABILITY OF PATCHY FROST ACROSS THE CT RVR VLY OF WRN MA INTO
CHESHIRE COUNTY OF NH. AIRMASS DOES MODIFY TO ABOUT +5C FRI AFTN
/PER GEFS AND ECMWF/ COURTESY OF STRONG JUNE SUNSHINE. NEVERTHELESS
HIGHS FRI WILL ONLY CLIMB INTO THE U60S AND L70S...WHICH IS A FEW
DEGREES COOLER THAN NORMAL BUT MUCH LOWER TEMPS THAN RECENT DAYS.
SAT...
NOT MUCH CHANGE...NW FLOW ALOFT WITH CLOSED LOW REMAINING OVER THE
MARITIMES. PLEASANT DAY WITH SUNSHINE...LOW HUMIDITY AND 850 TEMPS
WARMING TO ABOUT +7C SUPPORTING HIGHS IN THE 70S INLAND.
SUN/MON AND TUE...
AS NOTED ABOVE MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE HERE WITH ECMWF AND ITS
ENSEMBLES FARTHER EAST WITH MARITIME LOW THAN GFS. GIVEN THE GEFS
AND THE ECENS SUPPORT THE OPERATIONAL ECMWF SOLUTION WILL LEAN
TOWARD A DRIER FORECAST HERE ALONG WITH CONTINUED TEMPS AT OR
SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL. FOR POPS THESE THREE DAYS WE FOLLOWED THE
LOWER HPC VALUES COMPARED TO THE HIGHER 00Z GMOS POPS.
&&
.AVIATION /17Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
FORECASTER CONFIDENCE LEVELS...
LOW...LESS THAN 30 PERCENT
MEDIUM...30 PERCENT TO 60 PERCENT
HIGH...GREATER THAN 60 PERCENT
REST OF TODAY...
MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN OVERALL TRENDS...LOW TO MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN
EXACT TIMING. EXPECT GRADUALLY CLEARING SKIES THROUGH AROUND 20Z
OVER WRN TERMINALS...THEN 21Z OR LATER AT ERN TERMINALS. AFTER
THIS POINT A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH SCT TSTMS THROUGH THE REGION.
BEST TIMING WILL BE THE 20Z TO 22Z TIMEFRAME FOR TERMINALS W OF
ORH...THEN 21Z TO 23Z FOR TERMINALS E OF ORH. CANNOT RULE OUT
POTENTIAL FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL WITH THESE STORMS. CBS WILL
LIKELY LINGER INTO THE EVENING HOURS. OTHERWISE WINDS WILL REMAIN
GUSTY OUT OF THE SSW.
TONIGHT...
REMNANT TSTMS DISSIPATE AFTER SUNSET. OTHERWISE...EXPECT SOME
LINGERING MVFR CIGS AND VSBYS IN -SHRA AND FOG. SUSPECT MOSTLY A
LIFT TO VFR AFTER COLD FROPA AFTER MIDNIGHT SAVE FOR MAYBE CAPE
AND ISLANDS WHICH MAY SEE A REMNANT MVFR CIG OR VSBY INTO THE
EARLY MORNING HOURS. WINDS GRADUALLY SHIFTING TO THE W AROUND 10
KTS OVERNIGHT. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE.
THURSDAY...
HIGH CONFIDENCE VFR. EXPECT SCU DEVELOPMENT LATE MORNING AND
AFTERNOON WITH CIGS 4 OR 5 KFT. A POSSIBLE MVFR CIG OVER THE NW.
KBOS TERMINAL...
VFR TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS THROUGH AROUND 21Z
WITH SSW WINGS GUSTING TO 25 KT ON OCCASION. AFTER THAT EXPECT
TSTM DEVELOPMENT NEAR OR OVER THE TERMINALS ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 21Z
AND 00Z. EXPECT MVFR AND IFR CIGS AND VSBYS WITH HEAVY
RAIN...GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. CONDITIONS
IMPROVE OVERNIGHT AFTER A COLD FRONT PUSHES THROUGH. EXPECT MOSTLY
VFR AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH WINDS SHIFTING THE W.
OUTLOOK...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...
GENERALLY VFR THROUGH THE PERIOD. MODERATE TO HIGH CONFIDENCE.
&&
.MARINE...
WEDNESDAY...
HAVE EXTENDED SCA FOR MUCH OF THE AREA BEGINNING PRIOR TO MIDDAY
WITH ANTICIPATION OF INCREASING S/SW FLOW WITH GUSTS AT OR ABOVE
25 KTS...ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO SHORE...RESULTING IN BUILDING SEAS
OF 5-6 FEET INTO THE AFTN. OF CONSIDERABLE NOTE WILL BE THE
POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF WHICH MAY BE SEVERE...ALONG
AND AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT WHICH WILL SWEEP INTO THE WATERS BY LATE
AFTN AND INTO THE EVNG.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL WILL DISSIPATE AS COLD FRONT SWEEPS OFFSHORE.
SW WINDS TO SHIFT OUT OF THE W AND POTENTIALLY GUST AT TIMES
IMMEDIATELY IN WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT. WILL SEE A LULL IN THE
WINDS AFTERWARD TOWARDS MORNING...AND THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR
SEAS CLOSER TO SHORE TO FALL BELOW SCA THRESHOLDS...BUT FEEL
CONDITIONS WILL
THURSDAY...
CONTINUING SCA THRU THE WED NGT PD INTO THURS AS HIGH PRES BUILDS
INTO THE RGN AS A LOW PRES DIGS THRU ERN NEW ENGLAND...WILL SEE
STRONG W/NW WINDS GUSTING 25 TO 30 KTS AND SEAS BUILD TO 5-7 FEET
OVER THE WATERS.
OUTLOOK...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...
THU NIGHT AND FRI...NW WINDS MAY GUSTS TO 25 KT ESPECIALLY NEAR
SHORE.
SAT AND SUN...LIGHTER WINDS AS WEAK HIGH PRES BUILDS OVER THE AREA
SAT FOLLOWED BY A BROAD/WEAK LOW PRES SUN.
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...NONE.
MA...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR MAZ023.
NH...NONE.
RI...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ230>237-
250-251-254>256.
&&
SYNOPSIS...NOCERA/SIPPRELL
NEAR TERM...EVT
SHORT TERM...SIPPRELL
LONG TERM...NOCERA
AVIATION...NOCERA/DOODY
MARINE...NOCERA/SIPPRELLHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 410 AM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-020815- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA- EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA- WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA- SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI-BRISTOL RI- WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI- 410 AM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A LOW PROBABILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE MAIN THREATS ARE STRONG TO DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THE BEST CHANCE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ACROSS INTERIOR SECTIONS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. ANZ230>237-250-251-254>256-020815- BOSTON HARBOR-CAPE COD BAY-NANTUCKET SOUND-VINEYARD SOUND- BUZZARDS BAY-RHODE ISLAND SOUND-NARRAGANSETT BAY-BLOCK ISLAND SOUND- COASTAL WATERS EAST OF IPSWICH BAY AND THE STELLWAGEN BANK NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY-MASSACHUSETTS BAY AND IPSWICH BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM PROVINCETOWN MA TO CHATHAM MA TO NANTUCKET MA OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OUT TO 25 NM SOUTH OF MARTHAS VINEYARD AND NANTUCKET- COASTAL WATERS FROM MONTAUK NY TO MARTHAS VINEYARD EXTENDING OUT TO 20 NM SOUTH OF BLOCK ISLAND- 410 AM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL WATERS AND RHODE ISLAND COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE WATERS THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE GREATEST CHANCE WILL BE ACROSS THE NORTHERN WATERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. NOCERA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1223 PM EDT WED JUN 01 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM HAIL HUDSON 42.76N 71.43W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH HILLSBOROUGH NH CO-OP OBSERVER
0825 AM HAIL MAYNARD 42.43N 71.46W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0900 AM HAIL NORTH READING 42.58N 71.08W
06/01/2011 M1.00 INCH MIDDLESEX MA HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO...FROM HILLVIEW COUNTRY CLUB
0905 AM HAIL GEORGETOWN 42.73N 70.98W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH ESSEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
0910 AM HAIL PAWTUCKET 41.87N 71.37W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH PROVIDENCE RI PUBLIC
&&
EVTPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
117 PM EDT WED JUN 01 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM HAIL HUDSON 42.76N 71.43W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH HILLSBOROUGH NH CO-OP OBSERVER
0825 AM HAIL MAYNARD 42.43N 71.46W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0900 AM HAIL NORTH READING 42.58N 71.08W
06/01/2011 M1.00 INCH MIDDLESEX MA HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO...FROM HILLVIEW COUNTRY CLUB
0905 AM HAIL GEORGETOWN 42.73N 70.98W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH ESSEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
0910 AM HAIL PAWTUCKET 41.87N 71.37W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH PROVIDENCE RI PUBLIC
1157 AM HAIL FREETOWN 99.99N 999.99W
06/01/2011 M0.75 INCH BRISTOL MA HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO
&&
123SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 218 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 MAZ002-003-008-010-NHZ011-015-012030- WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA- EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-CHESHIRE NH- WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...ORANGE... CHESTERFIELD...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON...JAFFREY...KEENE... PETERBOROUGH...WEARE 218 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON. AT 215 PM EDT...THESE STORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH. THESE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD ARRIVE IN NORTHWEST MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AFTER 230 PM EDT. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM EDT. TRAINED SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. CTZ002>004-MAZ004>007-009-011>016-026-NHZ012-RIZ001>004-012030- HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA- WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA- EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI- EASTERN KENT RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION... VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...BARRE...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM... LOWELL...LAWRENCE...GLOUCESTER...BLANDFORD...SPRINGFIELD... MILFORD...WORCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD...CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON... QUINCY...AYER...MANCHESTER...NASHUA...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD... PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK 218 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT. STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE APPROACHING SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON...AND SHOULD ARRIVE BETWEEN 3 AND 5 PM ACROSS THE MERRIMACK VALLEY IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST MASSACHUSETTS AND NORTHERN CONNECTICUT. THESE STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD IMPACT EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND PRIMARILY BETWEEN 4 AND 7 PM EDT. THE MAIN THREATS FROM THESE POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE FROM LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING STRAIGHT-LINE WINDS. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM EDT. TRAINED SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. BELK
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
256 PM EDT WED JUN 01 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM HAIL HUDSON 42.76N 71.43W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH HILLSBOROUGH NH CO-OP OBSERVER
0825 AM HAIL MAYNARD 42.43N 71.46W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0900 AM HAIL NORTH READING 42.58N 71.08W
06/01/2011 M1.00 INCH MIDDLESEX MA HAM RADIO
HILLVIEW COUNTRY CLUB
0905 AM HAIL GEORGETOWN 42.73N 70.98W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH ESSEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
0910 AM HAIL PAWTUCKET 41.87N 71.37W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH PROVIDENCE RI PUBLIC
0925 AM HAIL FREETOWN 41.82N 71.05W
06/01/2011 M0.75 INCH BRISTOL MA HAM RADIO
&&
EVTSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
258 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011
MAZ002>004-008>011-012000-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-NORTHERN
WORCESTER MA-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE
MA-
258 PM EDT WED JUN 1 2011
AT 254 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH AND UP
TO NICKEL SIZED HAIL 11 MILES WEST OF MIDDLEFIELD...OR ABOUT 26 MILES
SOUTH OF NORTH ADAMS...MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.
* SOME LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE...MIDDLEFIELD...CHESTER...
BLANDFORD...EAST WINDSOR...HUNTINGTON...WORTHINGTON...RUSSELL...
CUMMINGTON...MONTGOMERY...CHESTERFIELD...WESTHAMPTON...GOSHEN...
SOUTHAMPTON...EASTHAMPTON...WILLIAMSBURG...HOLYOKE...NORTHAMPTON...
CONWAY...HATFIELD...SOUTH HADLEY...WHATELY...HADLEY...GRANBY...
SUNDERLAND...DEERFIELD...AMHERST...MONTAGUE...LEVERETT...
BELCHERTOWN...PELHAM...SHUTESBURY...WENDELL...WARE...ORANGE AND NEW
SALEM.
FOR YOUR SAFETY...GET INSIDE WHEN THIS STORM APPROACHES. WINDS MAY BE
STRONG ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN SMALL BRANCHES. MINOR STREET FLOODING AND
PONDING OF WATER IN POOR DRAINAGE AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
THIS STORM WAS PRODUCING FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. GET
INDOORS OR INSIDE A VEHICLE NOW! IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE...STAY
AWAY FROM ISOLATED TALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES. AVOID OPEN AREAS SUCH
AS GOLF COURSES AND BALL FIELDS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE
AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.
&&
LAT...LON 4239 7302 4249 7299 4261 7228 4220 7220
4217 7303 4225 7301 4230 7301 4231 7303
4233 7307 4239 7307
DOODYPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
320 PM EDT WED JUN 01 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0815 AM HAIL HUDSON 42.76N 71.43W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH HILLSBOROUGH NH CO-OP OBSERVER
0825 AM HAIL MAYNARD 42.43N 71.46W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH MIDDLESEX MA TRAINED SPOTTER
0900 AM HAIL NORTH READING 42.58N 71.08W
06/01/2011 M1.00 INCH MIDDLESEX MA HAM RADIO
HILLVIEW COUNTRY CLUB
0905 AM HAIL GEORGETOWN 42.73N 70.98W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH ESSEX MA AMATEUR RADIO
0910 AM HAIL PAWTUCKET 41.87N 71.37W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH PROVIDENCE RI PUBLIC
0925 AM HAIL FREETOWN 41.82N 71.05W
06/01/2011 M0.75 INCH BRISTOL MA HAM RADIO
0307 PM HAIL SWANZEY 42.87N 72.28W
06/01/2011 M0.75 INCH CHESHIRE NH HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO
0312 PM HAIL KEENE 42.93N 72.28W
06/01/2011 M0.75 INCH CHESHIRE NH HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO
0314 PM HAIL KEENE 42.93N 72.28W
06/01/2011 M1.00 INCH CHESHIRE NH HAM RADIO
HAM RADIO
0316 PM HAIL KEENE 42.95N 72.30W
06/01/2011 E1.50 INCH CHESHIRE NH TRAINED SPOTTER
0317 PM HAIL KEENE 42.95N 72.30W
06/01/2011 E0.75 INCH CHESHIRE NH TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTED FROM PARK AVENUE
&&
123The Albany radar (KENX), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:20 UTC.
23 hail, 11 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Trees were downed on Route 116 and Hillside Road.
Half dollar to golf ball size hail fell across Northampton.
A tree was downed by thunderstorm winds onto a car on Walnut Street.
Trees and wires on Bay Road were downed by thunderstorm winds.
A supercell thunderstorm developed over western Massachusetts. This storm strengthened and produced a long-lived, very significant tornado that did extensive damage across southwest and south central Massachusetts.
This storm will be noted not only for its intensity, but also for the length of the continuous damage path, approximately 38 miles, 31 of which were in Hampden County. The tornado was also very wide at some points, reaching a maximum width of one half mile.
The tornado first touched down in the Munger Hill section of Westfield with damage mainly limited to trees, many uprooted and snapped. The roof of Munger Hill Elementary School was also damaged. The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved into West Springfield and caused extensive damage to industrial buildings and homes. Several buildings had their roofs removed by the tornado, a few structures collapsed, and several multi-story buildings lost their upper stories.
The tornado then crossed the Connecticut River adjacent to the Memorial Avenue bridge and into the city of Springfield. Here the tornado produced extensive damage to the south side of the downtown area with many homes destroyed. In addition, commercial brick buildings sustained major damage. Roofs were removed from many of these large commercial structures. The tornado also produced severe structural damage to townhomes and apartments near Springfield College. The tornado continued moving east into the Island Pond section of Springfield, where Cathedral High School and St. Michael's Academy sustained significant damage and many homes in this part of the city were completely destroyed.
The tornado continued to move east through Wilbraham near the Wilbraham/Hampden town line producing nearly complete deforestation and significant damage to nearby structures.
Widespread damage occurred in Monson as the tornado moved directly through the center of town. Many houses were completely destroyed and significant damage was done to commercial and residential buildings. The roof of Monson High School was destroyed. Forested parts of town experienced nearly complete deforestation and in some locations the bark was stripped from the tree trunks.
The tornado moved across the Brimfield State Forest where it reached its maximum width of approximately one half mile. Additional significant damage occurred both to structures and forested areas for many miles through Brimfield before crossing into Worcester County just south of Route 20.
Three fatalities were directly attributable to the tornado, two in West Springfield and one in Brimfield. A thirty-nine year old woman in West Springfield was killed when her house collapsed on her while she sheltered her 15 year old daughter in the bathtub. Also in West Springfield, a twenty-three year old man was killed when his van was crushed by a falling tree. A fifty-two year old woman in Brimfield was killed when the trailer home she was living in was thrown 35 feet into the air. In addition, two hundred people were treated for injuries sustained in the tornado.
It was estimated that 1400 houses and at least 78 businesses were either damaged or destroyed. Of these 1400 houses, roughly 300 of them had been completely destroyed, including about 200 in Springfield, 51 in Monson, 39 in Brimfield, and 13 in Wilbraham. Two hundred residential buildings were condemned and more than 300 rental units were lost throughout western Massachusetts.
Two public schools in Springfield and one in Westfield were severely damaged by the tornado. At least two parochial schools were also destroyed. The students attending these schools were temporarily assigned to other area schools for the remainder of the school year. Public school students will begin the 2011-2012 school year in modular buildings on the site of their former school buildings and parochial students will be travelling to temporary locations, some outside their home city.
Nearly 10,000 acres of woodlands were destoyed with the Massachusetts Forest Landowners Association estimating a clean up cost of $3.6 million. This is included in the property damage estimate. In Springfield alone, 7500 mature trees were uprooted or destroyed.
Shelters that opened across western Massachusetts on June 1, sheltered a total of 330 residents for a total of 30 days.
President Obama issued a Major Disaster Declaration for Hampden County shortly after the tornado.
The Massachusetts Division of Insurance reported that 9500 insurance claims were completed by residents as a result of the June 1 tornadoes, adding up to $175 million worth of damage. This included 5000 personal insurance claims totalling $135 million, 3500 automobile claims totalling $20 million, and 1000 commercial property claims totalling $20 million. These damage amounts are also included in the property damage estimates with this event.
Property damage estimates, injuries, and fatalities are a total for the entire June 1 episode with the majority of the damage and all of the injuries and fatalities directly related to this long track EF3 tornado. The remainder of the property damage listed on this event can be attributed to one of the other 3 tornadoes that occurred in western Massachusetts on June 1.
A supercell thunderstorm developed over western Massachusetts. This storm strengthened and produced a long-lived, very significant tornado that did extensive damage across southwest and south central Massachusetts.
This storm will be noted not only for its intensity, but also for the length of the continuous damage path, approximately 38 miles, the last 6 of which were in Worcester County. The tornado was also very wide at some points, reaching a maximum width of one half mile.
Once the tornado moved into the Brimfield State Forest, significant damage occurred to both structures and forested areas for several miles before the tornado reached the Southbridge Municipal Airport. Here numerous aircraft were lifted off the ground and into the woods east of the airport. The tornado continued east before lifting in the southwest part of Charlton.
The majority of the damage done by this tornado was done during the first 31 miles of the track, in Hampden County. All of the property damage, injuries, and fatalities are accounted for in the Hampden County portion of the tornado. The majority of the property damage and injuries, and all of the fatalities occurred in Hampden County. However, there was enough damage in Sturbridge and Southbridge that President Obama amended his original disaster declaration for Hampden County to include Sturbridge and Southbridge.
Large trees throughout town were downed by thunderstorm winds.
A CoCoRaHS observer recorded a 60 mph wind gust on their home weather station. A trained spotter reported eight inch diameter limbs downed along Browning Pond Road at the same time.
Large branches on Columbus Street were downed by thunderstorm winds.
Several trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.
The tornado touched down in the northwest corner of Wilbraham and continued east crossing Main Street and Mountain Road, but remained south of Route 20. Most of the damage was to trees with large limbs snapped off, as well as numerous trees downed. Several trees were uprooted.
All associated property damage estimates are included in the EF3 tornado that occurred in Hampden and Worcester Counties.
The tornado touched down north of Brimfield, west of Route 19. It then crossed Route 19 and lifted near Tower Hill Road. The damage was surveyed on the ground and by aircraft and consisted of trees with large limbs snapped off, as well as numerous trees downed, a few of which were uprooted. This tornado was produced by the same thunderstorm that produced the North Wilbraham tornado.
All associated property damage estimates are included in the EF3 tornado that occurred in Hampden and Worcester Counties.
A third tornado touched down briefly from the same thunderstorm that produced the north Wilbraham and north Brimfield tornadoes. This tornado touched down in Wells State Park and then continued on across Walker Pond Road and Podunk Road, lifting up just west of Route 49. Damage was generally limited to downed trees, but one of these fell onto a house on Walker Pond Road. All associated property damage estimates are included in the EF3 tornado that occurred in Hampden and Worcester Counties.
A tree on Belleview Road was downed onto a house by thunderstorm winds.
Large branches were downed by thunderstorm winds on Route 27.
Several four to six inch diameter trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.
Numerous trees were downed by thunderstorm winds.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado, Hampden | 2011-06-01 | 52 | Female | Mobile/Trailer Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Hampden | 2011-06-01 | 39 | Female | Permanent Home | Direct |
| Tornado, Hampden | 2011-06-01 | 23 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Massachusetts in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Massachusetts, 2011Warnings in Massachusetts, June 2011
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 323376, 323377, 323378, 323379, 323380, 323381, 323382, 323383, 323440, 323384, 323386, 323387, 323388, 326105, 323389, 323390, 323391, 323392, 323395, 323398, 323400, 323402, 323403, 323404, 323405, 326129, 326133, 310786, 323406, 323407, 323408, 323409, 323410, 323411, 323412, 323413, 323414, 323415, 323417.