Massachusetts
Is it unusual to have several tornadoes a year in Massachusetts?
BOSTON – It seems like this has been a very busy summer for not only rainfall and flooding but tornadoes as well. Is it unusual to have this many tornadoes here in Massachusetts? What’s going on?
July brought a lot of wet weather with over 10″ of rain in Boston, severe weather, and several tornado warnings across the area. The National Weather Service issued their first tornado watch in our area in over a year!
On July 16th, an EF-0 tornado with estimated winds of 80 mph touched down briefly in North Brookfield damaging trees in the area. It traveled about two miles. That was the first of two tornadoes to touch down in about two weeks.
On Saturday July 29th, an EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds of 105 mph touched down in Foxboro near Easton and Mansfield traveling about 300 yards.
Both were “typical” New England type twisters, short-lived, wrapped with rain and relatively weak, and thankfully no injuries were reported.
Historically… Massachusetts averages two tornadoes a year with July being the most active month for twisters.
So, getting the number of tornadoes we’ve seen so far… is not all that uncommon. However, having the right atmospheric conditions last month did help produce the twisters.
July had plenty of days with warm, moist air. We also had a lot of instability and available energy, a parameter we look for that can be a good signal of how strong a storm can get.
There were also many times wind shear was prevalent, which means the wind changed direction and speed the higher you travel in the atmosphere. Also, having a strong jet which can steer individual storms and can create a strong upward motion helping to produce severe storms that ultimately form tornadoes.
We had a lot of instances with the right conditions coming together… but there have been plenty of summers when they haven’t. Just last year we had zero tornadoes… but the year before that six… those, however, came with tropical systems. The number of tornadoes varies through the years. We had three tornadoes each in 2020 and 2019 and seven back in 2018!
Despite all the technological improvements in recent years, most of our tornadoes in New England remain hard to detect on Doppler Radar. Many times, they form or “spin-up” so quickly, by the time the warning is issued, they may already have lifted.
So bottom line, we’ve seen a few weak tornadoes which is common for this area, and unfortunately, we can’t let our guard down yet, as there is plenty more summer to go. It’s a good reminder to taking warnings seriously and have a backup plan indoors on days where severe weather is possible.
If you have a question you’d like us to look into, please email questioneverything@cbsboston.com.
Massachusetts
Naughty list: Massachusetts ‘idiot’ gets stuck in chimney while trying to evade police
Ho-ho-no!
A Massachusetts man got himself stuck inside a chimney while trying to evade cops Tuesday night in a failed attempt to channel Ol’ Saint Nick.
Officers with the Fall River Police Department attempted to conduct a raid of the man’s Canal Street home in the small New England town — only to be led on a Christmas goose chase.
As the cops knocked on the front door, they saw two men fleeing the home via the roof, according to 10WJAR.
One lept off the roof while the other, Robert Langlias, hopped down the chimney in a maneuver seemingly inspired by Father Christmas.
“[One man] invoked the essence of the seasonal icon and attempted to hide inside of a chimney,” police said in a statement. “[He] quickly became stuck in the chimney and required the assistance of the very detectives he was previously fleeing.”
Bodycam footage shared by the police department shows the moment the responding police officers scaled the roof and confronted Langlias who was deep in the flue.
“You’re an idiot,” said an officer wielding a flashlight as the camera panned down to Langlias, 33, wedged inside the base of the chimney.
The officers confirmed that the suspect was in fact stuck, but able to breathe while they called for the fire department to come and rescue the wannabe Santa Claus.
“Get me out of here, bro!” Langlias pleaded with the same cops he had tried to hide from, according to the footage.
Firefighters can be seen in the video taking apart the chimney brick-by-brick from inside the home as Langlias helplessly waited to be taken into custody.
“Due to his Santa-antics, Langlias was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared,” police said.
The other wanted party jumped off the roof, onto a car, and lammed it before cops could make an arrest and remains at large.
Langlias has been charged with possession of Class A drugs, possession of Class B drugs and a bevy of charges stemming from outstanding warrants.
Tanisha Ibay, 32, is also facing Class A and Class B drug possession charges stemming from the incident after being arrested at the property with little fanfare.
Matt Breen, Shawsheen — After averaging 18 points and nine rebounds per game last year, the 6-foot-9-inch senior forward is primed for another big season. He’s a mobile big man who excels as a rim protector.
Will Carty, Watertown — A dominant force in the paint, the 6-10 center averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game last season. His presence makes the Raiders a threat in Division 3.
James Dingman, Arlington — The senior is positioned for another stellar season after averaging 20 points per game last season. At 6-3, he’s a versatile wing who can slash to the rim and shoot over the top.
Mike Dankert and Nate Reynolds, Bourne — The two 1,000-point scorers return for their senior seasons after powering the Canalmen to the Division 4 final. Reynolds is the reigning South Coast Conference MVP after averaging 20.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game last year. A versatile wing, Dankert put up 18 points per game.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Matt Gaffney, Malden Catholic — The Naval Academy-bound senior point guard paced the Golden Tornadoes to their third consecutive Division 2 title last year. He has Malden Catholic poised to make a run at a historic fourth.
Javi Lopez, Central Catholic — After averaging 19 points and six rebounds for the Raiders, the 6-1 junior enters the season as one of the state’s premier guards.
JJ Martinez, St. Mary’s — A returning Globe All-Scholastic, Martinez averaged 19 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Now a junior, he has started for the Spartans since eighth grade.
Caden Sullivan, Franklin — The Panthers are a Division 1 favorite once again, and Sullivan is a major reason why. The 6-1 senior guard averaged 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.7 steals last season, and is committed to play at Endicott.
Teagan Swint, Newton North — The reigning Bay State Carey MVP, Swint is one of the state’s most dynamic scorers. A 6-4 senior guard, he averaged 24 points and seven rebounds per game.
Other names to know: G Isaiah Andino (Methuen), F Niko Catalano (North Andover), G Jack Charchaflian (Winchester), F Sam Concemi (Andover), G Aaron Cote (Wareham), G Jaydaan Correia (Cambridge), F Carson Gretz (Newburyport), G Justin Marino (Medford), Jack Millward (Wakefield), G Sam Myerberg (Lexington), G Brandon Nicastro (King Philip)
PLYMOUTH – Experts are investigating after a dead humpback whale washed ashore a beach in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The whale was found dead Tuesday morning on Bayside Beach. It’s not yet known what caused its death.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation conducted an internal exam Tuesday on the dead whale.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is working with the group on possible next steps.
NOAA reminded people to maintain a safe distance from all marine animals, and to report any stranded marine mammals and sea turtles to a hotline by calling (866) 755-6622.
Past Massachusetts whale sightings
Plymouth has been a popular destination for humpback whales in the past.
In the summer of 2022, whales were regularly appearing close to Manomet Point. The sightings drew boaters to the area.
A man on shore snapped photographs as a humpback whale breached and landed on the bow of a boat several hundred yards off shore.
After several close calls that summer, local, state and federal agencies issued a warning to boaters asking them to use caution in the area.
This summer, a mother humpback whale was rescued after becoming tangled in fishing gear off the coast of Massachusetts. The whale, known to the Center for Costal Studies (CCS) Humpback Whale Studies Program as Mudskipper, was accompanied by her 7-month-old calf when she became entangled by 150 feet of rope.
In August, a young humpback whale was spotted in Boston Harbor, posing potential delays to MBTA ferry routes.
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