The History of the June 1st 2011 Tornado
June 1, 2011
1pm: A tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service
By 4:00: There had been reports of hail and other severe weather and thunderstorms throughout the northeast from CT to Maine.
Between 4:17pm and 5:27pm ( NWS estimate): The EF3 tornado that hit Springfield, traveled from Westfield all the way to Charlton, about 39 miles total.
Between 6:32pm and 6:40 pm (NWS estimate): Another tornado, rated an EF1 formed in Wilbraham, traveled 3.6 miles
Between 6:54pm and 6:57pm (NWS estimate): The 3rd confirmed tornado, an EF1, formed in North Brimfield, traveled 1.3 miles information obtained from the National Weather Service’s website.
1pm: A tornado watch was issued by the National Weather Service
By 4:00: There had been reports of hail and other severe weather and thunderstorms throughout the northeast from CT to Maine.
Between 4:17pm and 5:27pm ( NWS estimate): The EF3 tornado that hit Springfield, traveled from Westfield all the way to Charlton, about 39 miles total.
Between 6:32pm and 6:40 pm (NWS estimate): Another tornado, rated an EF1 formed in Wilbraham, traveled 3.6 miles
Between 6:54pm and 6:57pm (NWS estimate): The 3rd confirmed tornado, an EF1, formed in North Brimfield, traveled 1.3 miles information obtained from the National Weather Service’s website.
On June 1, 2011, 3 tornadoes touched down in Western Massachusetts. The one that hit Springfield began in Westfield, gained strength as it moved through West Springfield, and made it’s way as an EF3 tornado into downtown Springfield (the Enhanced Fujita scale ranges from 0-5 based on damage and wind speed).
Go to http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/sigevents/jun01_2011_tracks.php for a map of the paths that the 3 tornadoes took.
Another tragedy of June 1, 2011 were the four lives lost during the storms.
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same."
Did you know?
According to severe weather expert Dr. Greg Forbes and the National Climactic Data Center, Massachusetts is ranked 36th out of the 50 states based on the number of tornadoes that have hit between 1950 and 2010 (having 152 confirmed tornadoes in that time). Ironically, Hampden County has been hit with 15 tornadoes since 1950, and June 1st was the anniversary of another outbreak of tornadoes to hit Springfield, Westfield and West Springfield in 1956! Information taken from The Weather Channel @ www.weather.com