UPDATE: Tornado Watch Issued for Boston Area; Public Advised to Stay Away from Open Spaces

(Editor's note: This article was updated on Wednesday at 9 p.m.)

The National Weather Service has declared a tornado watch for Boston and most of Eastern and Central Massachusetts. The watch is in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

Boston Police have ordered the public to stay away from public parks and open space, according to spokesman David Estrada. All sporting events and park permits have been canceled. 

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.

At 4:40 p.m., the NWS issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central Middlesex County and other areas across Massachusetts due to a severe thunderstorm located near Barre—18 miles northwest of Worcester—that is "capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 MPH" and moving east at 40 miles per hour.

“The main threats from any possible severe thunderstorms will be damaging winds and large hail,” read the statement. “Trained weather spotters are requested to watch out for conditions that reach reportable criteria and contact the national weather service.”

Click here for a list of precautionary measures released by the City of Boston.