Tornado Watch Lifted in Medford, Middlesex County

The National Weather Service has lifted its tornado watch for Massachusetts, including Middlesex County.

The watch was originally set to expire at 8 p.m, then temporarily extended. As of 10 p.m., it was no longer listed on the weather service's website.

According to the NWS, tornado watches are issued when "conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in and close to the watch area."

Tornado watches are normally issued "well in advance of the actual occurrence of severe weather," according to the NWS glossary.

"During the watch, people should review tornado safety rules and be prepared to move a place of safety if threatening weather approaches," said the NWS in a statement."

Around 4:30 p.m., reports of tornadoes touching down in the western part of the state spread across Twitter. Possible tornadoes were sighted in Westfield and Agawam and the NWS reported on Twitter that a tornado had touched down in Springfield; photos were posted on Twitter.

On the Springfield Police radio band, police reported that the MassMutual Center arena and convention center would be used as a rally point for the Red Cross and shelter for anyone displaced from their homes. Police reports also included building collapses and reports of people injured.