National Weather Service issues severe thunderstorm warning for parts of CT

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Connecticut.

The warning is for Windham County, Northern Tolland County, Northern Hartford County, parts of Massachusetts and part of Rhode Island.

The service reported that at 4:21 p.m. Wednesday severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Leicester to Stafford, moving southeast at 20 mph. The potential hazard includes 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail, the service saId.

The service also reported that radar indicated at 4:15 p.m. that hail up to quarter size was reported in Springfield.

As of 4:20 p.m. the warning was through 5:15 p.m.

Hail damage to vehicles is expected and possible wind damage to to roofs, siding, and trees could occur, the service reported.

Locations impacted include: Worcester, Enfield, Woonsocket, Franklin, Mansfield, Windham, Grafton, Killingly, Webster, Southbridge, Bellingham, Auburn, Burrillville, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Northbridge, Ellington,
Tolland, Wilbraham, and Oxford.

Precautionary actions could include:

• For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
• Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately.
• Lightning is one of nature’s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning.
• Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.