And that would explain all the debris on the Northeast Corridor tracks in Mansfield. The National Weather Service reports on why there was so much debris on the Northeast Corridor tracks: Read more.
Not just because of the heat, but because the National Weather Service says we can expect severe weather anytime through 8 p.m. or so, and that means: Read more.
The National Weather Service says be alert - and that even if we don't get tornadoes, we could see flooding from heavy rains.
The National Weather Service reports a tornado touched down near Conway, on the west side of the Connecticut River, during yesterday's storms.
The maximum estimated speed was 110 MPH, however most of the damage is estimated to have occurred with 80 to 100 MPH winds. Most of the damage occurred in Conway, MA with a brief touchdown in Goshen, MA in Hampshire county.
Channel 5 report: "We're not sure if that belongs to that Dunkin' Donuts on that side or the one behind the Sunoco gas station." Read more.
National Weather Service experts report that based on the evidence on the ground, the tornado that hit Revere this morning seemed to have had maximum winds of 120 m.p.h. and that it traveled two miles on the ground along Broadway.
The funnel, 3/8 of a mile wide, would be an EF2 on the 0-5 scale used to measure tornadoes.
Numerous streets blocked by fallen trees and downed wires; police warning of gas leaks.
June 9, 1953 was hot and humid. The weather bureau predicted thunderstorms, some possibly severe, for central Massachusetts. It got those storms - and an F4 tornado that touched down to the northwest of Worcester, creating a trail of death and destruction that ended only at the Framingham line, after the Fayville post office was flattened. In all, 96 people died that day.
Among the photographers who rushed to chronicle the damage was, of course, Leslie Jones:
Sunday update: Organizers say they are particularly looking for: Water, blue tarps, flashlights, batteries, glow sticks, bungee cords and rope.
Kate Neville reports she found this photo and address labels in her Natick yard today. The labels list an address in Stafford Springs, CT, about 20 miles south of tornado-ravaged Monson, MA. But where is the photo from? Who is the little boy?
I keep wondering if this photo is from someone's home that was destroyed in the tornado...
Because of stories like this, NECN weatherman Matt Noyes has opened up his Facebook page to people who want to post photos of stuff they've found, in the hopes their owners might reclaim them:
I don't expect there will be a great many items, but if we can reunite even just a few folks with their treasured belongings, hopefully it will help ease their loss in a very small way.
Alicia Staley noticed a suddenly startling Museum of Science ad on the Green Line this morning.
The Boston Fire Department reports a caravan of firefighters and trucks left Boston at 4 a.m. to help with rescue and recovery in Springfield:
Donna Halper reports that at the height of the storm, Channel 4 put a guy on with a live report from hard-hit Douglas:
UPDATE: State now confirms 4 deaths. Also, some looting in Springfield; National Guard will help patrol the city tomorrow.
Richard Beaubien captured twin lightning bolts hitting Bolton.
Maybe Leominster will still be with us in the morning. You know it's serious because Ed Harding on Channel 5 has his glasses down near the end of his nose.
Photo of the storm cell's edge.
Katken photographed a bolt over the Arboretum, after the storm moved southeast.
Johnmcboston photographed lightning over the South End.
Photos copyright Richard Beaubien, Katken and Johnmcboston, respectively. Posted in the Universal Hub pool on Flickr.