Tag Archives: Massachusetts

National Weather, Natural Disasters

Stunning satellite imagery shows damage path of deadly EF3 Massachusetts tornado

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The Bay State is not one which is normally associated with tornadoes having only seen 152 twisters in the past 60 years – up until last week.  Massachusetts took a big hit last week though as a massive tornado ripped through the Springfield area killing four people.

Satellite imagery released by the USGS and NASA (below) shows the scar the EF3 tornado left on the earth as it ripped a path 39 miles long.  The image taken by Landsat shows the path of the half-mile wide tornado as it cut through Sturbridge and beyond.

The twister first touched down near Westfield and then moved into Springfield after crossing the Connecticut River.  Both areas saw extensive damage to buildings and homes as the twister moved through.

As it moved east the tornado debarked trees and struck the town of Monson where extensive damage was seen.  It eventually hit Brimfield Sate Forest and then the Southbridge Airport.

When it was done, four people were killed  and 200 injured.  Latest estimates put the damage cost at $90 million making it the most costly natural disaster in the state’s history.

Two smaller, EF1 rated tornadoes also struck nearby on the same day.  One caused a damage path 3.6 miles long and the other 1.3 miles long.

Related:

Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. (USGS / NASA)
Image taken by the Landsat satellite on June 5, 2011 showing the damage path from an EF3 tornado that struck Massachusetts on June 1, 2011. Click the image for a larger version. (USGS / NASA)
National Weather

Record setting rain in New England causes widespread flooding

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Many rivers were experiencing major (purple) or moderate (red) flooding according to the National Weather Service. (NWS / AHPS)
Many rivers were experiencing major (purple) or moderate (red) flooding according to the National Weather Service. (NWS / AHPS) Click the image for a slideshow of the flooding.

Record breaking rains across the Northeast turned into flooding the likes of which haven’t been seen in the region for more than 100 years. As hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate yesterday, authorities have warned that the worst is yet to come.

Earlier this month many of the same areas were struck by flooding but that event pales in comparison. Rainfall amounts have been staggering in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. From New York to Maine, widespread flooding is expected.

The nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island, has suffered the most with rainfall in some areas approaching 10 inches. 120 homes in Cranston were evacuated and in Warwick 300 apartments and 100 businesses fled the rising floodwaters.

Interstate 95, the main route between Boston and New York was closed and may remain so for days. Amtrak was forced to cancel some train service through the region due to water on its tracks.

Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri said, “None of us alive have seen the flooding that we are experiencing now or going to experience. This is unprecedented in our state’s history.”
The governor gave all non-essential state personnel the day off and officials asked schools and businesses to consider closing as well.

The Pawtuxet River crested early Wednesday in Cranston at 20.79 feet – more than 10 feet above flood level and almost six feet above the record level.

Other rivers in the region were already above flood stage and some may not crest for days leading officials to warn that the worst is yet to come. The Charles River in Dover, Massachusetts and Merrimack Basin tributaries in New Hampshire and Massachusetts were at ‘major flood stage’ according to NOAA’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service.

State of emergencies were declared in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts and governors in those states called out the National Guard to help with relief and recovery efforts.

President Barack Obama had already declared Major Disasters for Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Massachusetts from the flooding earlier this month.