The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning weather at 6:44 p.m. as Doppler radar indicated a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.
The storms were located along a line extending from Russell to Hartland to 27 miles south of Southington or along a line extending from 13 miles southwest of Southington or along a line extending from 13 miles southwest of Northampton to Hartland to Milford and moving east at 40 mph.
Some locations in the warning include Montgomery, Canton, Plainville, Westfield, Avon, Simsbury, Farmington, Southwick, Granby, Holyoke, East Granby, Bloomfield, West Springfield, Berlin, Suffield, Windsor, Wethersfield and Rocky Hill.
The NWS warns the public not to seek shelter under trees. If you hear thunder you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Drivers should be alert for ponding of water and avoid flooded roads.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 11:00 p.m. Saturday for Northern Connecticut and Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire and Central Rhode Island.
The NWS has also issued a warning for severe thunderstorms and a few tornadoes for western and central Connecticut from Saturday afternoon through the night.
The NWS says the tornado watch will remain in effect in Hartford, Glastonbury, Granby, Southington and Windsor Locks until 9 p.m.
Some severe thunderstorms with large hail, heavy rainfall, damaging winds and frequent lightning could also hit Mansfield, Stafford Springs and Vernon overnight.
Ashford, Plainfield, Putnam and Willimantic could see showers and thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon. Some thunderstorms may be severe with damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall.
The NWS also issued a warning for severe thunderstorms for Northwestern Hartford County in Northern Connecticut, including the City of Hartland until 2:45 p.m.
The NWS Doppler Radar at 2:00 p.m. indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing damaging winds in excess of 60 mph.
The storm was located 15 miles South of Harland or near Torrington and was moving Northeast at 35 mph.
The severe thunderstorm will otherwise remain over rural areas of the indicated county.
Doppler Radar indicated weak rotation within this storm while, not likely, a tornado may develop.
The NWS asks residents to remain calm and take cover by going into interior rooms on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and avoid windows.
A tornado watch remains in effect until 9:00 p.m. Saturday evening for Northern Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.
