NOUS41 KBOX 251013 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-RIZ001>008-252215- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 613 AM EDT Thu Apr 25 2024 ...SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK - TORNADOES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND IN 2023... The National Weather Service (NWS) Boston, MA has declared April 22 through April 26 as Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Each day this week we will highlight a different preparedness topic. In a typical summer season, southern New England averages 2 or 3 tornadoes. Last year was above normal with 13 tornadoes in NWS Boston's jurisdiction. Most were on the weaker side with EF-0 ratings on the Enhanced Fujita Damage Scale, which ranges from 0 to 5. The strongest was an EF-2 in Rhode Island. July 16, 2023 - A NWS survey determined that an EF-0 tornado, with maximum estimated peak wind of 80 mph, touched down in North Brookfield at 1056 AM EDT. There were no injuries or damage to homes in the area. There were several eyewitnesses to the tornado, although none of them saw an actual funnel. One eyewitness was in an auto body shop and reported strong winds making the garage door bow inward. Another eyewitness, the Fire Chief of North Brookfield, saw debris lofted into the air. A third eyewitness described chaotic swirling as the tornado passed by. The tornado is estimated to have touched down a little east of the North Brookfield Waste Water Center. It traveled about 2 miles to the northeast, although not on the ground continuously, and ended a little east of the intersection of Ryan Road and Hillsville Road. The damage was limited to trees, with the most concentrated damage area along Ryan Road, slightly north of the Ward Street intersection. July 29, 2023 - An EF-1 tornado was confirmed to have touched down in a small neighborhood in Foxboro near the Mansfield town line very close to the town of Easton. Several locations on a west to east path in the neighborhood had several large trees up to 2 feet in diameter snapped at the trunk. Observed tree damage had a convergent pattern consistent with violently rotating winds. No major damage to homes was observed, but one chimney appeared to have been knocked over by a fallen tree. Path width was estimated to be around 25 yards. Path length of the surveyed damage points was just shy of 300 yards. Per radar data, a velocity couplet was over the surveyed neighborhood for only a minute or two before continuing east over conservation land. It is possible that the tornado was on the ground for longer, but surveyors were unable to access conservation land east of the last surveyed damage point. Additional significant tree damage was found east of aforementioned conservation land in Easton, but patterns were more consistent with west to east straight line winds. This is also consistent with archived KBOX radar which displayed strong outbound (west to east) velocities over this area. August 8, 2023 - A small EF-1 tornado touched down in the town of Mattapoisett Massachusetts at 11:20 AM EDT. The storm was on the ground for approximately 3 minutes. The storm moved to the northeast at approximately 20 MPH and lifted off the ground on North Street just north of Eldorado Drive. Numerous large Pine and Maple trees were uprooted falling in several directions. There were also numerous pine trees along the path that were snapped off between 10 and 20 feet above the ground. The most concentrated damage was found along Eldorado Drive by Granada Court. The top wind speed was estimated to be 95 mph. August 8, 2023 - A small EF-0 tornado touched down in the town of Barnstable, near the village of Marstons Mills, at 11:52 AM. The storm tracked ENE from Evergreen Drive for approximately four minutes before lifting over Joe Thompson Road, at approximately 11:56 AM. The primary damage indicators were an uprooted hardwood tree and a downed electrical pole, supplemented by strewn debris inclusive of smaller trees, fence posts, and branches. The damage was most concentrated near the center of the track at the intersection of Race Lane and Osterville-West Barnstable Road. Witnesses described a chaotic event, observing airborne fence posts and branches. Top wind speeds were estimated at 80 mph. August 18, 2023 - The storm that produced the Rhode Island tornado produced a second tornado as it crossed into Massachusetts, just over the Cumberland line in North Attleborough. Many trees were snapped or uprooted on Mendon Road near the intersection of Monticello Drive. An eyewitness saw swirling debris before taking shelter in her home. From there, damage was more sporadic. A home on Mary Ann Way had its third floor window blown in. Additionally, there were a number of downed or snapped trees on Lisa Drive. The tornado then lifted briefly before touching back down in Mansfield along Gilbert Street, where it sheared several large trees near their tops, one of which fell on a car. An air conditioning unit, estimated to have weighed 1000 pounds, was knocked over on the roof of a one-story commercial building. August 18, 2023 - An EF-0 tornado briefly touched down in Stoughton on Eighth Street and Corbett Street. Sporadic damage along a short path included fallen trees, one of which fell onto a shed. Part of a fence was blown in. August 18, 2023 - An EF-1 tornado touched down in Weymouth near the intersection of Pleasant and Torrey Streets. Numerous trees were uprooted and snapped. A home at the intersection of Burton Terrace and Torrey Street had about twenty singles torn from its roof. On Park Avenue, a three-inch diameter branch from a tree trop was blown about 120 yards and driven into the ground to a depth of 2 feet. An eyewitness who received a Wireless Emergency Alert could see swirling debris out a window as she took shelter in her cellar. The tornado lifted near a water tower at the end of Lockewoods Drive. August 18, 2023 - An EF-2 tornado caused significant damage along a discontinuous path in Scituate, Johnston, and North Providence, Rhode Island. This is the strongest tornado to have struck Rhode Island since the F-2 tornado in Cranston and Providence on August 7, 1986. The tornado first touched down near Byron Randall Road in Scituate which is where the most severe damage occurred. There were hundreds of large trees either uprooted or snapped at their bases. One home sustained damage to its roof, the top of its chimney was blown off, windows were blown in, and an exterior door was dislodged from its framing. Damage was consistent with winds of around 115 mph which is classified as EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The tornado then tracked into Johnston where it crossed I-295 at Exit 10 and lifted a vehicle into the air before dropping it back onto the highway. The driver was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. From there, the tornado moved across Bridle Way and Carriage Way where a number of trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which fell onto homes or vehicles. Some homes also lost some singles from their roofs. A metal Stop sign pole was bent in half and the sign was blown away. The tornado then caused damage in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery where a number of large trees were either snapped or uprooted. The damage observed in Johnston was consistent with winds of 90 to 100 mph which is classified as EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Finally, the tornado crossed into North Providence. Similar to Johnston, a number of trees were either snapped or uprooted, some falling onto homes or vehicles. Most of the damage observed was to the north of Mineral Spring Avenue. One of the harder hit areas included Lydia Avenue, Armand Drive, and Bennett Street where two homes were made uninhabitable from fallen trees. The damage observed in North Providence was consistent with winds of 90 to 100 mph which is classified as EF- 1 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. The National Weather Service would like to thank the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, the Scituate Police Department, the Johnston Police Department, the North Providence Fire Department, and Skywarn Amateur Radio Operators for their assistance with the damage survey. August 18, 2023 - A tornado caused damage in the town of Scotland, located in Windham County, CT. The tornado touched down on Bass Road and continued along Route 14 (Huntington Road) and crossed Pinch Street before it eventually lifted near Brook Road. While there wasn't much in the way of structural damage observed, other than gutter damage to two homes, there was significant tree damage. It was estimated that well over one hundred trees were either downed or sheared off at their tops. September 13, 2023 - An EF-0 with maximum winds of 75 mph briefly touched down in a rural area of North Attleborough on Ellis Road which caused tree damage south of High Street. The tree damage was limited to the tops of three trees having been twisted off and lofted into nearby pasture. After speaking with the homeowners they described seeing the sheets of rain change direction before seeking shelter in their basement. The tree damage along the path was consistent with wind speeds between 65 and 75 mph, resulting an EF-0 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. September 13, 2023 - An EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph began on Bailey Hill Road in the town of Killingly, CT between Cranberry Road and Ledge Road, here the tornado removed shingles from a two story home and either snapped or uprooted healthy and mature trees. The tornado moved northeast towards Ledge Road causing similar tree damage before dissipating on Shippie Schoolhouse Road in the town of Foster, RI. Tree damage along the path was consistent with wind speeds between 90 and 100 mph, resulting an EF-1 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. September 13, 2023 - An EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph began in a wooded area between Chopmist Hill Road (Route 102) and Bungy Road in the town of Glocester, RI here the tornado either snapped or uprooted an estimated 75 or more, healthy and mature trees. The tornado moved northeast and crossed Bungy Road before dissipating over an open field. Most notable, a small outbuilding, used as bus stop shelter was blown away by the tornado with remnants littered west of the original location. Some pieces were found an a neighbors roof. This damage and the tree damage along the path was consistent with wind speeds between 90 and 100 mph, resulting an EF-1 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. September 13, 2023 - An EF-1 with maximum winds of 100 mph began east of North Central State Airport along Wellington Road in the town of Lincoln, RI. A video did show a funnel cloud passing over the adjacent airport but found no damage. The tornado uprooted a large tree and damaged am estimated 20' by 30' section of roof on a building across the street and due north of the uprooted tree. Video provided by Lincoln Animal Control showed a thin tornado passing at the end of the facility's driveway and twisting a large branch from a tree. The tornado moved northeast into a field of solar panels which uplifted two sections. From here, the tornado likely lifted before moving across Route 146 at Route 116 which was documented on a DOT camera. This damage and the tree damage along the path was consistent with wind speeds between 90 and 100 mph, resulting an EF-1 rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. $$ For the latest updates...please visit our webpage at www.weather.gov/boston You can follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWSBoston You can follow us on Twitter at @NWSBoston