FIRST ALERT: Severe thunderstorm warning issued in Western Massachusetts
Parts of Massachusetts including the Boston area, as well as parts of Rhode Island and northern Connecticut, are under a grave thunderstorm warning on Tuesday afternoon, July 6. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for all of southern New England with the exception of Cape Cod and the Islands until 8pm. The thunderstorm watch has been issued until 10pm for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties in Connecticut. A 'thunderstorm watch' means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to develop.
A number of severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for New York as well for July 6 afternoon. A thunderstorm warning means a storm is imminent or occurring, that is when it is advised to seek shelter indoors and stay away from windows. NBC10 Boston and NECN Weather Team have declared three First Alerts for impactful weather conditions in the coming days — heat, humidity and storms on July 6, late-day storms on July 7, and impact from nearby Tropical Storm Elsa on July 8.
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Meanwhile, in case you missed my weather broadcasts this AM on @nbc10boston and @necn, I started acknowledging exactly what a close pass from Tropical Storm #Elsa would look like *if* it tracks over Cape/Islands, which remain at center of @NHC_Atlantic forecast cone. pic.twitter.com/d2J7c7ZLgu
— Matt Noyes NBC10 Boston & NECN (@MattNBCBoston) July 6, 2021
According to reports, damaging wind gusts could be the primary threat in storms that develop on July 6, along with lightning and torrential downpours. Additionally, First Alert is issued for July 7 again for another round of thunderstorms, some of which could be severe. The main timeframe of concern is between 1 and 9pm, reports say. It is advised to keep an eye on the sky and look out for warnings on-air and online.
July 8 is likely to see much cooler temperatures, though humidity might linger in far southern New England. The stalling front with an approaching storm center from the west would have paved way for unsettled conditions on July 9, but the close passage of storm Elsa raises the stakes. On July 9, Elsa is expected to infuse tropical moisture into the rain, making over an inch of rain likely. If Elsa tracks over Cape Cod or the Islands, 50 to 60 mph southerly gusts and 10 to 20 foot seas are likely on Friday, July 9, according to NBC Boston.
If the storm goes a bit farther southeast, the impact is reduced, though rain can still be expected. By Saturday, the sun might return and will bring more clouds but probably not much rain, with the chance of showers increasing on Monday.