MA, CT tornado warning, severe storm forecast, maps for Boston – NBC Boston

See all weather alerts for your area here, and track live, interactive radar below.

Tornado warnings were issued in parts of western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut on Saturday afternoon, and while they’ve expired, more severe storms were flaring up across the region, including into the Boston area.

The severe storm that sparked the first tornado warning was south of Great Barrington and headed toward Sheffield, the National Weather Service said. More warnings were issued for Hampshire and Franklin counties — one storm was headed toward Springfield.

Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued across New England Saturday afternoon: In parts of Worcester and Middlesex counties near Boston; western Massachusetts, across New Hampshire and Connecticut and in southern Maine.

Saturday started off hot and humid, as a cold front slowly approached the Boston area. But storms, some severe, will be how many across the region end the day — a severe weather movie was issued for large parts of New England through 8 p.m.

Many communities in southeastern New England will avoid any rain or storms until after sunset. Western and northern New England, however, will see severe storms in the afternoon, through sunset. 

The overall prime time for severe storms is 1 to 10 p.m. from west to east. And there’s a tornado risk that comes with them.

Any storm that pops up this afternoon in western Massachusetts, western Connecticut, central New Hampshire, southern Vermont or western Maine could rotate into a supercell, and possibly set down a brief tornado. 

Later in the afternoon, the storms organize into a line of damaging winds, hail, flooding rainfall and lightning. 

Saturday is a day to be weather aware, and if you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately to protect yourself from lightning (regardless of whether or not the storm is severe). Here’s the key things to know about some major weather warnings.

Severe thunderstorm warning

NWS definition: Issued when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a thunderstorm is producing, or forecast to produce, wind gusts of 58 mph or greater, structural wind damage, and/or hail 1 inch in diameter or greater.

Action: Seek shelter indoors away from windows.  

Tornado warning

NWS definition: Issued when there is evidence based on radar or a reliable spotter report that a tornado is imminent or occurring.

Action: go to the lowest level of your building.  Basement is best.  Or interior closet/bathroom putting as many walls in between you and the outside as possible, lowest floor and  no windows. 

Saturday night, the showers and storms fizzle, but the rain and clouds stick around for Sunday.

A few storms are possible across Cape Cod early Sunday with heavy rain and some lightning. The off-and-on showers continues during the Patriots opener in Foxborough. 

The sun returns by Monday and Tuesday, with cool temps in the upper 60s to low 70s.