Tornado Watch Issued In MA As Volatile Storm Approaches

WORCESTER, MA — Seven counties in Massachusetts stretching from the Atlantic Coast to the Berkshires will be under a tornado watch for much of the day Sunday, and a more severe tornado warning had already been issued for a portion of the state, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado watch covers all of Essex, Middlesex, Worcester, Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. A tornado watch means that local residents should be prepared to seek shelter in case tornadoes form.

Near 8:30 a.m. Sunday, a weather radar indicated a tornado was in the area stretching from Maynard northeast to Dracut. That warning was set to expire around 8:45 a.m.

The larger tornado watch will expire by 3 p.m. Sunday, the weather service said.

The entire region will see heavy rain and thunderstorms Sunday, with particular concern for the I-84 corridor between Hartford and Worcester. The western and central parts of the state could see 3 or more inches of rain, with localized amounts topping 6 inches, the weather service has said.

The bigger threat Sunday is flash flooding, the weather service said. The region has been saturated by rain over the past several weeks, which means streams, rivers and urban waterways may quickly flood under heavy rains.

"Be aware that flash flooding is LIKELY, and drivers are urged to NEVER drive through flood waters. Stay safe," the weather service urged Sunday morning.

Almost the entire state is under a flood watch through early Monday morning.