GlennM's Journal, 01 June 2011

I was just watching on CNN and am hoping all my friends in the Northeast are okay. Please keep your eye on the sky, Glen, and if you don't have a basement, get into an inside hall or bathroom in the bathtub. Take care and be safe.  

Things have calmed down here but now at 6 p.m. there is a tornado warning for Westfield, Massachusetts where my friend lives; a funnel cloud was seen just a short time ago there - I called him and told him to get in a basement, he lives in a mobile home - his landlord can get him inside. Thankfully, so far no one seems to have been killed by the Springfield tornado. I went to the basement area of the building just before the warning came on TV for my town, then I saw the tornado on TV forming by the Connecticut River and thankfully no one going over the main bridge was killed - survivors are on live TV - first floor lounge is ensconced in the building at all sides so I was safe there, my building is huge and went deep into the safest part of it, there is a stairwell to the basement area. I have the news on and am watching for warnings to take cover and will again if necessary, I can hear the thunder and lightning nearby about fifteen miles away, it is to the south of here, so we're safe here for now...  

Another tornado is touching down now according to TV, pray for everyone to be safe - it is a very populated area... 

Hey Glenn, I am just south of that Springfield tornado, getting the high winds off of it, no rain or hail. Weather is weird tonight. Stay safe my friend. I just put some fish on the BBQ so hope it holds off for a few minutes!! 

Things have calmed down here - to the southeast clouds loomed unbelievably high - white on top and dark on the bottom area with clouds. There are lots of trees down and some building damage in West Springfield to Springfield. There are touchdowns, but no one seems to have been killed by the swath of storms it seems. All of it did seem surreal to me. Thanks ctlss for your well wishes... there are warnings for central Massachusetts still... 

Babs - some serious clouds over the Seven Sisters mountain range area - past it on the other side like a half hour ago - in the distance past the Granby, Massachusetts and South Hadley area as storms went through eastern Hampden County. Hail here - another confirmed tornado in Palmer, Massachusetts right now headed east. You know the area well having grown up in Hatfield so you know the area - also a probable touchdown in Southbridge, Massachusetts but everyone has wisely taken cover and thank God most people in this region have basements to go to when they tell you to do it on TV... 

There are warnings for central Massachusetts headed to eastern Massachusetts, quite a few - wish everyone in the path of these storms well... 

Glenn, stay where you are buddy. I know the feeling as we had to do the same thing a month ago. Thats when 3 tornado's were within 3 miles of my house. WE had to go to our basement. Very scary stuff my friend Let us know how you are......Bren 

Thanks Bren - more storms popping up in Springfield area at 8 p.m. I can hear thunder again and have the news on to listen to hear if there is a tornado warning in my town. I may have a long night of being up if there are continuous warnings. One death reported, 28 injured, some seriously numbers may change - that is in Springfield. 

Just be careful buddy.. I hate to hear of deaths. Damaged buildings etc can be replaced.....Bren 

Damage in West Springfield, Massachusetts; Springfield, Massachusetts; lots of roofs torn off, some houses destroyed in Monson, Massachusetts - possible tornado touchdown there, some houses in those places have trees through them, many cars destroyed on the streets. The governor said so far nineteen communities directly affected... 

Praying for you all in that area. Watching the weather channel as I type. Take cover.... 

Yes Bren - many people probably did not take the tornado warning seriously as there has not been a swath of storms like this to hit our area in my lifetime. Now all we can do is hope for the best, the National Guard will be out in Springfield and surrounding areas affected to help keep things under control... 

Thanks Bren for the prayers - and everyone else who has done so too.  

Hi Glenn, Sacramento has cool temps and thunder strikes with hail today...very strange. Keep safe my friend. TOWANDA!!! 

Four people killed so far, more than thirty injured many in surgery in Springfield, Massachusetts two big hospitals. Springfield is a city of 150,000 many houses damaged or destroyed - fortunately the people here - most have basements in this area of the country, which saved so many lives. Monson, a small town to the east of Springfield was directly hit too. The storms are out to sea now, but the weather was strange - it has been hot over a week, Texas hot today. Tornado watches are common here but not tornado warnings and there were many repeated over and over, with suspected wind movement that signaled tornadoes on radar. It could have been worse considering how possibly there were more than a few tornadoes, thanks for checking in Lisa...