Tornadoes Likely Touched Down In MA and RI, The NWS Says

MASSACHUSETTS — A tornado likely occurred in the southern part of New England Wednesday after tornado warnings were issued for parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

“We will survey storm damage in CT & RI tomorrow,” the NWS wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday night. “Looking at radar data & videos it does appear likely that a tornado occurred. The survey will help determine its strength on the EF-scale, maximum wind speed, & path length/width.”

A tornado warning was in effect until at least 6:30 p.m. Wednesday as a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Cumberland, moving east at 15 mph, around 6 p.m., the National Weather Service said. The same storm was located over Smithfield, Rhode Island earlier in the afternoon.

Pawtucket, North Attleborough, Central Falls, Brockton, Attleboro, and Woonsocket were also under a tornado warning Wednesday evening.

Officials said that more information about possible tornadoes in the area would be made available Thursday.

The tornado warnings in New England come as Hurricane Lee begins to impact Bermuda, where tropical storm conditions were being reported. Already dangerous surf and rip current conditions were affecting much of the East Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Lee is forecast to pass offshore of New England, but its impact will still be felt.

There is the potential for “life-threatening storm surge” flooding in southeastern Massachusetts as a result of the storm. A storm surge watch is in effect late Friday and Saturday for Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket.