Tornado hits Springfield as thunderstorms sweep Massachusetts

A toado hit Springfield, Massachusetts this afteoon, as two heavy thunderstorms ripped across the state.

The debris-filled funnel cloud roared through the city, one of the state's biggest, at around 4.45pm, felling trees and damaging buildings before heading east.

There were reports of residents trapped in houses, roofs ripped off and some injuries, but further details have yet to emerge.

It came as forecasters issued a toado watch all along the East Coast, from Maine to Pennsylvania and including New York, Boston and Philadelphia.

And there was a grim waing for New Yorkers after a storm expert waed the city was one of five long overdue a hurricane, as the season began today.

The National Grid reported about 22,600 homes were without power, primarily in the Greater Springfield area, after winds brought down power lines.

Witnesses also called police saying they had seen toadoes in nearby Wilbraham and Agawam.

Thomas Walsh, a spokesman for Springfield Mayor Domenic Sao, said he was looking out of his window at City Hall at around 4.30pm when he saw the funnel.

He said: 'I could see this massive cloud of debris floating around in a circular, cylindrical fashion.

Officials heard reports of damage in the city's South End section, and emergency vehicles were heading there.

According to a National Weather Service meteorologist, there are two major storms, one moving over Worcester and another over Sturbridge, further east. Both are moving east, towards Boston.

In the city police were waing residents to stay indoors, and were ordering everyone off ballfields.

The twister had crossed the Connecticut River from Agawam and West Springfield before hitting the downtown area, causing more than 5,300 power outages.

Forecast: This Weather Channel map shows the toado watch in force all along the East Coast until 8pm today

Stormy outlook: Forecasters predict severe thunderstorms will progress along the East Coast this afteoon and into this evening

Emergency services asked people to stay in their houses and avoid travelling to the toado area because of the risk of gas leaks, and to allow emergency vehicles in.

The National Weather Service issued a toado waing for cities and towns west of Boston, including Worcester.

According to local reports, a toado was spotted moving east through the town at 5.23pm, at a speed of 35mph.

Shortly afterwards the National Grid reported 2,972 houses had lost power in the county.

It had already issued a less severe toado watch across most of the East Coast, which is to remain in force until 8pm.

The toado watch is in force from Maine to Pennsylvania, and covers Philadelphia, Boston and New York City.

It means conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms and isolated toadoes, with the possibility of 70mph gusts, dangerous lightning and huge hailstones.

William Babcock, a National Weather Service meteorologist, had watched webcam footage of the Massachusetts storms recorded by local television stations.

He said: 'Both of them are showing signs that they could be toadic. And those are moving east.

'For the next hour, we’re definitely going to be conceed about greater Boston.'

While New Yorkers spent today basking in sunshine as the heatwave continued and the mercury hit 84F, they were waed storms could be on their way.

Dr Rick Knabb marked the beginning of the storm season today with a list of the five cities most overdue a 'significant hit' from a hurricane, including New York and San Diego.

This year experts are expecting the storm season to be busier than usual, including up to 18 named tropical storms, of which three to six will develop into major hurricanes.