This story has been updated with the latest information as of 2:15 p.m.
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Massachusetts by the National Weather Service as potentially severe thunderstorms move into the area on Thursday, June 18.
The watch covers Essex, Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, and Worcester counties, and is in effect until 7 p.m. It also stretches into Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine. The Berkshire County is also under a tornado watch until 3 p.m.
A watch means conditions could lead to the formation of a tornado. The National Weather Service will issue a warning if a tornado is actually spotted on weather radar or in person.
While the watch has been issued, Caitlyn Mensch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton, characterized it as “pretty low risk” in Massachusetts Thursday.
“The tornadoes likely are going to be on the weaker end if they were to happen, but it’s not looking like a widespread risk,” Mensch said. “It’s a pretty low risk.”
Here’s what to know about the weather forecast on Thursday.
Scattered severe thunderstorms possible in MA
There is a “marginal” risk for severe thunderstorms across the state on Thursday and Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Thunderstorms are possible across Massachusetts on Thursday, June 18, as a warm front moves through the region, according to the National Weather Service.
“We do have a risk for a few of those storms to be strong to severe,” Mensch said. “The main threat is going to be damaging winds, so we could be seeing some isolated damaging gusts up to 60 mph.”
She said the bulk of the rain and storm activity is expected in the afternoon and evening.
The highest risk is between noon and 11 p.m., the weather service said. Threats include damaging wind, frequent lightning, and possibly isolated tornadoes.
Severe thunderstorm risk in Massachusetts from Thursday, June 18, at 8 a.m., to Friday, June 19, at 8 a.m., per the National Weather Service.
See Boston weather radar
Massachusetts weather watches and warnings
This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Tornado watch issued in Massachusetts as weather could turn severe
