Lop Notes: Massachusetts Tornado Update

The National Weather Service is reporting that, after the initial aspects of their investigation, an EF3 tornado did extensive damage from Westfield to Charlton, Massachusetts, on 1 June.

NWS reports that a supercell thunderstorm developed over Western Massachusetts on Wednesday afternoon. This storm strengthened and produced a long-lived and very significant tornado. This storm is noted for its intensity and for the length of the continuous damage path – approximately 39 miles. The tornado was also very wide at some points, reaching a maximum width of one-half mile.

In addition, an EF1 tornado touched touch down in Wilbraham (mostly damaging trees) and another EF1 tornado briefly touched down in the northern part of Brimfield.

Media reports:

Boston Globe: A huge task of recovery along a path of ruin, loss (4 JUN 11)

Telegram & Gazette: Weather service ranks tornadoes between EF-1 and EF-3 (4 JUN 11)

Springfield Republican: National Weather Service confirms three separate tornadoes struck Hampden County (4 JUN 11)

Hartford Courant: Massachusetts Towns Picking Up The Pieces After Tornadoes (4 JUN 11)

Boston Globe: 80 miles from impact, a haunting paper trail (4 JUN 11)

Boston Globe: ‘Everything was just still’ (4 JUN 11)

Telegram & Gazette: When lives fall apart (4 JUN 11)

Telegram & Gazette: Neighbors unite in storm's aftermath (4 JUN 11)

Telegram & Gazette: Town that weathered tornado in 1984 inspires (4 JUN 11)

WWLP-TV: Picking up the pieces in Springfield (4 JUN 11)

WWLP-TV: Iconic Springfield building demolished (4 JUN 11)