Weekend cool-down
The National Weather Service has confirmed the intensities of the three tornados that struck western Massachusetts last Wednesday, June 1. The strongest left a path of devastation 39 miles long, from Westfield to Charlton, and was half a mile wide at some points. That tornado was classified as an EF-3, the third-highest rating on the scale with estimated maximum winds of 160 mph — a rarity for this part of the country. Two shorter-lived EF-1 tornadoes were confirmed in Wilbraham and North Brimfield.
Following that severe weather outbreak, we experienced quiet weather that became progressively hotter and more humid, culminating in a near record high of 92°F at Logan Airport yesterday. A cold front that passed through last night, however, will bring much cooler air to the region for the weekend. Today should remain dry as a high pressure system is in control, but a second cold front passing through over the weekend will cause unsettled weather from Saturday to Monday. An easterly flow off the water should keep temperatures slightly below normal on those days.