Violent and destructive severe weather throughout western and northern New England
The 2011 New England Tornado Outbreak was a tornado outbreak on June 1, 2011, that impacted the states of Massachusetts and Maine in New England. A total of six tornadoes touched down in both western Massachusetts and western Maine. The strongest, often referred to as the Springfield Tornado, was a long-track, high-end EF3 tornado that caused significant damage to the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as several adjacent cities and towns. By the end of the day, three people had been killed, at least 200 were injured, and over 500 families were left homeless.
Meteorological synopsis.
On May 30, two days before the outbreak, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) noted the possibility of a severe weather event in the Northeastern United States in their outlook. A storm system was forecast to draw warm, moist air (with dew points over ) from the south, ahead of a driving cold front. In light of this, the SPC issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms across the area. As an upper-level trough moved over the Great Lakes, further moisture and warmth increased atmospheric instability in the area, raising the threat of a squall line or supercell thunderstorms. By June 1, the storm system moved over Ontario and Quebec, with a cold front trailing behind it over northern New England. CAPE values exceeded 4,000 J/kg, indicating an extreme amount of instability in the atmosphere, conducive to strong thunderstorms. Additionally, a strong upper-level jet stream brought significant wind shear, which, in combination with the atmospheric instability, indicated a significant severe weather threat, with the main effects expected to result from downburst winds and large hail, but with tornadoes possible. An EML, which emerged over Arizona on May 28, was also present and created abnormally steep lapse rates in the mid-levels of the atmosphere, further increasing instability.
Between 8:18 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (EDT), severe storms producing hail developed over portions of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine; however, little if any impact resulted from these storms. At 10:05 a.m., the SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire state of Vermont, much of northern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania and parts of western Massachusetts and Connecticut. By this time, a broken line of severe storms had developed over parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania. With the storms gradually developing throughout the day and an increasing threat of tornadoes, a tornado watch was issued at 1:00 p.m. for much of New England, southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey. Around 2:00 p.m., severe storms with damaging hail, measured up to , and winds around developed in eastern New York. These storms gradually tracked east-southeastward into Vermont and later New Hampshire. One particular supercell produced very large diameter hail at Shaftsbury, Vermont after producing a funnel cloud and baseball sized hail across the border in New York State. At 2:43 p.m., the first of several tornado warnings in the area was issued for southern Coos County, New Hampshire.
Between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., severe storms developed over western Massachusetts and prompted a tornado warning to be issued at 3:28 p.m. for parts of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. About an hour later, another warning was issued for Springfield, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas. Within minutes, a touchdown was confirmed near Springfield by local law enforcement and amateur radio operators. This tornado was later rated a strong EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. At one point, this supercell displayed radar characteristics similar to historic supercells that produced violent tornadoes over the Southeast and the Great Plains. Over the next hour, damage was reported as far east as Charlton from this long-track tornado. Other brief touchdowns were reported across the state afterward as well, which caused minor damage.
In total, 10 towns and cities, Westfield, Agawam, West Springfield, Springfield, Monson, Wilbraham, Brimfield, Sturbridge, Southbridge, and Charlton, Massachusetts, all sustained damage from the long track EF3 tornado. A total of three (downgraded from the originally reported 4) people were killed as a result of the tornado and at least 200 people were injured from severe weather across the state. The outbreak included the first killer tornado in Massachusetts since the 1995 Great Barrington tornado.
Confirmed tornadoes.
Greater Springfield.
A large, long-lived tornado left a swath of major damage through Hampden County into Worcester County, in Western and Central Massachusetts. The tornado proved to be unusually persistent, remaining on the ground for one hour and ten minutes along a path long, the second longest on record in Massachusetts. The damage path reached a width of at its greatest point, while it was moving through Brimfield State Forest. The city of Springfield was devastated by the June 1, 2011 tornado, as was the southern portion of the Springfield Metropolitan Area – from Westfield to Charlton. Massachusetts has experienced only eight EF3 or higher tornadoes since 1950, and this was the first in Hampden County. The tornado killed three people, injured about 200 others, and left hundreds homeless. In Springfield, approximately 500 buildings were destroyed. Hundreds of other homes were destroyed in surrounding towns, including West Springfield (88 structures) and Monson (77 structures), among others. Damage estimates from the storm exceed $140 million, the majority of which was from the destruction of homes and businesses. Based on a post-storm survey by the National Weather Service, the tornado attained maximum estimated winds of as it moved into Springfield, ranking it as a high-end EF3.
Westfield.
The tornado first touched down at 4:17 p.m. EDT (20:17 UTC) in the Munger Hill section of Westfield, near Birch Bluffs Drive. Within Westfield, a total of 257 homes suffered damage, mostly ranging from broken windows to roof damage. However, 3 homes suffered extensive damage, including a house on Shaker Road which was ultimately condemned due to a tree piercing through the roof. Damage to homes and other structures was reported on Birch Bluffs Drive, Shaker Road, Falley Drive, Steiger Drive, Mallard Lane, Cardinal Lane, Glenwood Drive, Pontoosic Road, and Knollwood Drive. The tornado moderately damaged Munger Hill Elementary School, with two classrooms nearly destroyed and debris scattered throughout the school. The tornado removed a 20-foot section of roofing from the school and moved it several hundred feet away, dumping it in a swimming pool at a nearby home on Cardinal Lane. Only a handful of people were inside the school when the tornado struck, as pupils had already been dismissed for the day. Significant damage to trees and power lines occurred throughout Westfield. No fatalities or serious injuries occurred in Westfield as a result of the tornado; initial reports by state officials erroneously stated that two deaths occurred in Westfield.
Agawam.
The tornado briefly passed through the heavily forested northern section of Agawam, moving through Ridgeview Park and Robinson State Park. There were 25 acres (10 hectares) of damage at Robinson State Park, including damage to trees, roads, trails, day-use areas, and power lines. Multiple homes were damaged in Feeding Hills and North Agawam, although damage was relatively minor and no homes were destroyed. On River Street in North Agawam, power lines and telephone poles were torn down or twisted by the tornado. There were no tornado-related injuries or fatalities in Agawam, although an 18-year-old high school student was struck by lightning during the storm.
West Springfield.
The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved into the City of West Springfield, causing extensive damage to industrial buildings and tearing off roofs and the upper floors of three-story apartment complexes. Additionally, a few homes collapsed due to the severity of structural damage. Throughout West Springfield, 88 buildings were destroyed and two people were killed. One woman, 39-year-old Angelica Guererro, was killed on Union Street when her triple decker home collapsed on top of her. She was protecting her 15-year-old daughter by climbing on top of her and shielding her from debris while they both took cover in a bathtub. Her daughter survived with serious injuries, along with her 46-year-old husband, who was critically injured by their home collapsing. Another fatality took place on Main Street when a 5 foot (1.5 m) wide oak tree fell on a vehicle, killing the driver, 23-year old Sergey Livchin. The tornado then moved east, crossing the Connecticut River and entering Springfield.
Springfield.
Upon entering Springfield, the tornado crossed over the Memorial Bridge, with a significant amount of vehicular traffic on the bridge. The tornado tipped a tractor-trailer onto its side, blocking the two eastbound lanes. There were no injuries or fatalities on the bridge, and none of the other vehicles were overturned. Video of the tornado crossing the river was broadcast live on multiple news stations, as cameras on top of the nearby Monarch Place skyscraper recorded the tornado as it crossed the river and entered the city from West Springfield. Footage of the tornado crossing the bridge was widely circulated in the days following the storm. The tornado caused extensive damage throughout Springfield, destroying over 500 buildings. According to the Springfield Fire Department, several injuries were caused by cars being overturned by the tornado in multiple different occurrences throughout Springfield.
After crossing the Connecticut River and the Memorial Bridge, the tornado moved into Metro Center, the most urban neighborhood in Springfield. The tornado caused extensive damage to Springfield's Connecticut River Walk Park, destroying much of the park's formerly lush tree canopy and large sections of its wrought-iron fences. Some 200-year-old Heritage Trees in Court Square were uprooted and scattered throughout the area. Damage to buildings in Metro Center was relatively minor, especially compared to the neighboring South End. A Hampden County assistant district attorney was seriously injured when she was struck by flying debris while she walked from the Hampden District Attorney office to her car. Multiple people narrowly avoided injury as the tornado sent broken glass flying from windows at the Hampden District Attorney office.
Several commercial brick buildings in Springfield's historic South End sustained extensive damage – large portions of their roofs were torn off and numerous, ornate brick facades were completely destroyed. At the intersection of Main Street and Union Street, the mixed use Mills-Hale-Owen blocks were extensively damaged, with the top floor of one of the buildings partially collapsing. The multistory buildings were demolished one day after the tornado struck. A daycare on Main Street was directly in the tornado's path; none of the children were injured but one employee was minorly injured. The South End Community Center (located in the Howard Street Armory) sustained extensive damage; a large section of the roof was torn off by the tornado. Thirty-five children were taking shelter inside the community center when the tornado struck, although there were no injuries among the children. Severe structural damage to apartments and townhouses took place near famous Mulberry Street. Union Car Wash on Union Street was directly hit by the tornado; windows were broken and three garage bay doors were removed by the tornado. Dozens of cars in the parking lot were badly damaged by flying debris. In Auburn, roughly from Springfield, an advertising sign from the car wash was found.
Moving out of the South End, the tornado continued east into Six Corners, a residential urban neighborhood. Numerous houses and other structures in six corners suffered extensive damage as a result of the tornado. The Elias Brookings School, an elementary school in Six Corners, was severely damaged as a result of the tornado. The school was not demolished as a result of the damage; it sat derelict and vacant until a private developer eventually purchased it from the city in June 2018, with the intention of renovating the building and converting it into affordable housing.
After moving through Six Corners, the tornado passed through Springfield College, moving through the southern section of the campus. Numerous 150-year old maple and oak trees were uprooted or snapped in half by the tornado. International Hall, a 9-story dormitory housing approximately 300 students, was struck directly by the tornado. The metal façade was severely damaged, with large pieces torn off of the building. Almost all of the windows on the tower were blown out by flying debris or the tornado's powerful winds.
Three of the university's ten residence halls suffered severe roof damage (International Hall, Massasoit Hall &amp; Reed Hall), necessitating extensive repairs over the summer, in time for the start of the fall 2011 semester. There were no injuries or fatalities at Springfield College.
The East Forest Park neighborhood was hit especially hard by the tornado.