Jul 23, 2008 9:20 pm US/Eastern
Severe Thunderstorms Spin Funnel Clouds, Hail
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Funnel clouds were spotted off Barrington, Rhode Island Wednesday afternoon.
Roland Oliver/WBZ
Severe thunderstorms swept through parts of Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts Wednesday afternoon, generating some funnel clouds and sparking tornado warnings.
The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and a funnel cloud was spotted off Barrington. The warning was cancelled just before 5 p.m. when conditions began to improve. However, flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings remained in effect for a time.
The string of storms eventually made their way out to sea, but WBZ meteorologist Ken Barlow warned of other storms that would move into the Boston area Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. The string of storms were developing to the south and west of the Boston area. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the Boston area Wednesday night. Thursday was also expected to be a drencher with heavy rains expected throughout the day.
"It's going to rain on and off pretty much all day Thursday," Barlow said.
Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, trained weather spotters saw a water spout off Barrington Beach, weather service officials said. The cloud was moving northeast at 40 miles an hour into Massachusetts. It made its way through Taunton and moved through Marshfield before starting to head out to sea around 5:30 p.m.
WBZ meteorologist Ken Barlow said even after the funnel clouds subside, the storms were still considered severe and were capable of producing a tornado, Barlow said. Flash flood warnings were issued for Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth, Northern Bristol, Southern Bristol, Southern Plymouth, Suffolk, Western Norfolk, and Western Plymouth.
Tornado warnings were issued Wednesday afternoon for parts of Bristol, Kent and Providence counties in Rhode island and part of Bristol County and West Central Plymouth County in southeast Massachusetts until 5 p.m. The storms brought torrential rains in some areas and heavy hail.
During the tornado warning, officials advised people to stay inside and take shelter in a small interior room on the lowest floor or in the basement, and to stay away from windows.
Learn what to do in a tornado
The funnel clouds pushed into Massachusetts with winds that had the potential to exceed 100 mph. Some areas reported hail as big as 3 inches.
Rob Macedo with the National Weather Service said one person was struck by lighting in Kent, R.I. when the first funnel clouds were first spotted. The victim's condition is unknown. The storms were generating lightning and people were urged to seek shelter indoors and to stay away from windows. More than a dozen homes in Massachusetts were struck by lighting, including homes in Dover, East Bridgewater and Marshfield.
Wind damage has been reported in Bristol.
Drivers on Interstate 495 and State Highway 24 were urged to take caution as the storm approached the area.
Thunderstorms in the Boston area around 4:40 p.m., brought heavy rain, though WBZ meteorologists said they weren't severe.
Logan International Airport was reporting about 90 minute delays for incoming flights at 4:45 p.m. Check your flight status.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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