Massachusetts

Tornadoes Confirmed on the Cape and Lincoln, RI

Two tornadoes generated by Tuesday's storms have been confirmed by the National Weather Service.

Tornadoes touched down in Lincoln, Rhode Island at approximately 3:34 p.m. and Sandwich, Massachusetts around 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service confirmed the Sandwich tornado by way of Twitter and Facebook video and will determine the size, strength, and duration of the Lincoln tornado on Wednesday. 

WILD IMAGES: Funnel Clouds, Severe Damage as Strong Storms Move Through

In Norton, Massachusetts, many trees came down in the area of Reservoir Street and Mansfield Avenue, blocking several driveways, according to Norton police. The wind in Norton came from the same cell that produced the Lincoln tornado and the National Weather Service will determine if a tornado hit there, as well.

There were numerous reports of trees and power lines down in other parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island when the powerful storms tore through the region, prompting tornado warnings in several areas.

A tornado warning was in effect for about an hour in parts of Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth counties in Massachusetts, as well as part of Providence County in Rhode Island Tuesday afternoon.

Several people shared photos and videos on social media of ominous looking cloud formations in both states.

One image recorded near the Bourne Bridge on Cape Cod was a funnel cloud, according to NBC10 Boston meteorologist Pete Bouchard.

Video of the confirmed tornado in Sandwich, Massachusetts that touched down on Tuesday.

Aerial footage from NBC10 Boston's Sky Ranger helicopter showed pieces of roofs in Lincoln, Rhode Island that were literally ripped off of homes.

Tara Carcieri was with her 5-year-old daughter in the family playroom when the wind started howling.

“All of a sudden my phone had an alert on it,” said Carcieri. “Said that there was a tornado in our area and it said now, so I jumped off the chair, grabbed her.”

The National Weather Service says tornadoes touched down in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and on Cape Cod.

They ran downstairs.

“As I was walking down to the basement all I heard was smashing,” said Carcieri. “Smashing windows, I didn’t know what was happening. I was so nervous.”

The windows had shattered all over the playroom, right where Carcieri and her daughter had been sitting.

Outside, the car windshield was busted, the mailbox toppled over, and things in the backyard had flown around the house to the front.

“I was shaken up,” said Carcieri.

Justin Smith recorded video near Cape Cod’s Sagamore Bridge while a tornado warning was in effect in the area.

Firefighters went door to door assessing the damage and making sure everyone was accounted for.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said resident Michael Mota. “The trees were bending. It probably lasted four or five minutes. I knew we had a problem. My rocking chair was about a half mile down the street.

By nightfall, crews were spread out across the neighborhood, cutting down trees that had brought down power lines and trying to restore power that was knocked out to about 400 National Grid customers.

Video of storm clouds in Raynham, Massachusetts.

“The wind just started to pick up,” said resident Marisa Crowell. “It just got stronger and stronger and stronger and it was hailing out and then I heard a boom.”

Trees landed across her driveway and on top of her car.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Crowell. “And I hope I never see it again either. It was terrifying.”

No injuries were immediately reported as a result of Tuesday's storms.

Storm clouds over Charlestown, Rhode Island.
Glenn Bryant Jr. recorded video of what appears to be a funnel cloud near the Bourne Bridge.
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