Weather

Tornadoes Touch Down in Mass. and Conn. as Storm Slams Region

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

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Multiple tornadoes touched down in western Massachusetts and Connecticut as strong thunderstorms tore through the region Sunday evening.

The storms triggered tornado warnings in Berkshire County, Hampshire County and western Hampden County in Massachusetts, as well as in northwestern Litchfield County in Connecticut.

While authorities in Connecticut and western Massachusetts received several reports of tornadoes, there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Connecticut State Police said they received multiple reports of a tornado around the Falls Village section of Salisbury in the northwestern corner of the state. Trees and utility wires were reported down in the area.

The National Weather Service said there were multiple reports of tornado sightings reported to the 911 center in Falls Village.

NBC Connecticut Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan said there are signs that there was a brief tornado touchdown in Sharon.

Video of what appeared to be a tornado moving through a hilly, heavily wooded area was posted on social media.

Residents at 430 North Street in Norfolk reported heavy winds and rain "unlike anything they've seen." They retreated to their basement during the heaviest winds, and several trees are down on their property, a Norfolk public information officer said on Twitter.

The National Weather Service also said there were multiple reports of a tornado in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. Trees and utility wires also were reported down.

The National Weather Service said in its third tornado warning Sunday that a tornado was on the ground in a part of western Massachusetts. The last warning Sunday was issued just before 7:30 p.m. and expired at 8:00 p.m. for southwestern Hampshire County and northwestern Hampden County in western Massachusetts. Residents were urged to take cover immediately.

The NWS said the source for their third warning was a radar-confirmed tornado. In addition, law enforcement in Sandisfield reported a tornado producing damage on South Main Street, where about six trees were down.

There was no property damage and no injuries, according to the Sandisfield Police Department.

PHOTOS: Damage Reported in Mass., Conn. Communities After Tornadoes Touch Down

When the last of the tornado warnings expired, several severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect in western Massachusetts until 9:00 p.m., including central Hampshire County, central Franklin County and northwestern Hampden County.

There was an earlier tornado warning for that general area in effect until 7:30 p.m. It applied to southwestern Hampshire County and western Hampden County in western Massachusetts.

The National Weather Service said flying debris would be dangerous to those caught without shelter, warning tree damage was likely.

The first tornado warning was issued for southeastern Berkshire County in western Massachusetts and northwestern Litchfield County in northern Connecticut. It expired at 7 p.m.

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For a large chunk of Sunday, there was a tornado watch in effect for several portions of western Massachusetts, central and western Connecticut, and western Vermont. The watch was in effect from 3:10 p.m. until 10 p.m. Sunday.

The tornado watch was in effect for the following counties in Massachusetts: Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Berkshire.

In Vermont, the following counties were included: Addison, Windham, Rutland, Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, and Bennington.

In Connecticut, these counties were included in the tornado watch: Fairfield, Tolland, Middlesex, Litchfield, Hartford, and New Haven.

Scattered severe thunderstorms were expected across the watch area for the remainder of Sunday afternoon and evening, and the NWS had said a few tornadoes were possible along with damaging straight-line winds and isolated large hail.

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