Want to see more videos like this? Check out the June First channel where I make more videos like this! Link: th-cam.com/channels/GEZlX4V82wv7_Z2LsXtjPA.html
Well done documentary. I was a 10 year old boy at the time in North Brookfield MA. That day, I traveled to Sturbridge and missed the Tornado by 5 minutes. I remember walking out to leave and the sky was green and unlike anything I had ever seen. Upon getting home and realizing what was happening, the second super cell above the Springfield one was bearing down on us. We witnessed a funneI coming up over the trees in our backyard. Cowering in a basement when you hear that roar is something I never want to experience again. I have never been the same since that day, and was the closest to death that I’ve ever felt. Very cautious now when it comes to bad storms here.
West Springfield, my hometown. I had just missed the tornado by maybe a few minutes. I got down to Park Avenue when I started to see the damage that had been done. I came back the next day and saw the whole Merrick section. The tornado trashed the area.
What a great video. I was 7 or 8 when the tornado came thru. We had a house in 16 Acres, but I was in Wilbraham at the time it went thru downtown Spfld. My mom was home with my baby brother in the basement, and she could hear it as it went by. Some neighbors' houses were demolished, but ours was untouched, thank god. I remember that we went to our grandparents house in chicopee cause they were the only ones with power since they had undergroud power lines. Crazy day I'll never forget.
I was 17, just driving back towards winding ridge where my parents' place was on my last driving lesson when it touched down behind my parents' house. I'll never forget it
I’m from Connecticut, and we all still remember that tornado. I myself was almost hit by a tornado in 2010 by an EF1, but the Springfield EF3 was definitely a shock to us all, the Connecticut Science Center to this day still has the video playing on loop in one of the exhibits.
Even in areas often hit by tornadoes , I imagine it's a shock to see one and know it's eminent. Then take a region that's never or seldom gets threatened, like Maryland at the University or this tornado must be life changing. I am slowly trying to learn of every tornado that's made any significant impact so thanks for sharing this. I wasn't aware of this one.
Walking home from the bus that day in downtown Springfield, I remember it was eerily calm. There was something very still in the atmosphere that I took note of even before the tornado. My mom walked home from work from her office and made it there maybe 30 minutes before we watched the tornado approach us on live tv. We were frozen and had no idea what we were supposed to do on the 5th floor of an apartment building. We were one of the few buildings not touched but when it passed by our window it sounded like a train and hurt my head immensely with pressure. It made every other building look like doll houses, ripped in half. God was good to us.
Southbridge Ma still shows the effects of this tornado on the houses on Rt 169 which is close to Rt 20 and Charlton MA. I was at work in Northborough and corporate was kept giving my store updates. If I wasn't at work I would have been home watching the weather. Mother nature does what she wants. My heart still goes out to the people and towns that were effected by the tornado. Also if you're interested there was a major tornado in Worcester MA May 21 1953.
I was working in Springfield on this day, got out of work just in time to get in my car, turn the radio on and hear the warning that it had touched down and was headed east! That was a nail-biting ride home back to Brookfield, knowing it wasn't too far behind me! Great work on this video!
Very well done! Thank you. I’m from Mass, an EF3 here was a shock. But the commentary from people who filmed it ... 😂 Stuff you’d never hear in the Midwest.
We don't have them in the state of maine. Just once in a while. Wow we. Had 1 20 years ago and it wasn't too good. Tore tje roof off of our barn blew windows out of house. A mess everywhere. I cannot imagine what the mid westerners go threw.
Idk the strongest Tornado in MA but here in CT I can tell you it’s the Windsor Locks Tornado in 1979 a F4 witch would be Equivalent to a EF5 I believe you translated it to the EF scale but I’m not sure about that so don’t quote me
@@CharlesNYR Ohhhh. Vey interesting! I’d heard about that but not the F scale rating. Makes sense though, the NE’s “tornado alley” such as it is, are Western Mass, CT & NY.
Great job Ethan. You really captured a lot of great information. I remember exactly where I was on this date 11 years ago. I lived in Monson. I was in my basement, praying, thinking I was gonna die. Lost my home and brand new car in about 40 seconds. Never wanna do that again.
Good video. A friend owns One Stop junk yard in Brimfield, MA. 2 employees barely escaped by hiding under steel stairs as it passed directly overhead. Aproximly 90% of the junk yard was destroyed. All the buildings. The amount of destroyed cars was mind blowing. Countless classic cars as well as customer cars. To this day, it has never been the same. There are still reminders all over the yard in the form of ruined vehicles. This event changed so many lives forever.
Great video. I remember this day very vividly. I was usually driving home on 91 from work at that time and I was usually right in Springfield around that time, but my work needed me to go to New York for a few days and I ended up watching it on tv at the hotel after getting sunburnt laying by the pool cuz it was hot AF that day. That year was crazy had a tornado, hurricane irene, Halloween snowstorm outta nowhere. Can't believe it's been 10 years.
That Halloween snowstorm was NUTS! I was out plowing during it and you could see the sky light up from transformers exploding all over! The trees snapping sounded like bombs going off! Trees across roads out of nowhere, no power or hot water for 2 weeks in some places! The area looked like a warzone!
@derrickdorsey247- On July 26, 2011, less than 2 months after the June 1 tornado, Wilbraham had a microburst in some of the same areas that were affected by the tornado. On the north side of our home we had a few huge trees uprooted during the tornado; one still left standing on that side of the house toppled during the microburst (likely weakened by the tornado). We were without power for days on end. The Halloween snowstorm did less damage to our property, but we were without power, heat, and water, for 8 very cold, dark days. Definitely the worst weather year I ever endured in over 50 years.
Being a postal worker I saw the damage in Sprfld first hand, had to find a way to get thru the damage, downed trees, lines, closed roads etc, to the neighborhood stations to collect the mail. It was surreal, unbelievable. I missed the downtown direct hit, having left a Main St PO 5 minutes before it hit Main St. I saw opposite direction traffic backing up behind me on the highway, unaware that traffic in that direction was watching the tornado pass over
There might of been another mini tornado outside of westfield mass on route 20 heading towards Chester. Me, my brother and father were on our way to deliver firewood up to Chester. The valley is narrows just after passing the route 90 overpass. The wind speed increased that a micro tornado formed in the valley. Strong enough to over power the water in the river for brief period. It also almost lifted our truck. A late 90's dodge ram extended cab with three heavy guys in it and a half cord of wood. It was very freaky.
I worked brimfield 2 hours after it hit. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Truly unbelievable. Roofs ripped off houses and placed in their front yards. I saw shingles in Sturbridge impaled in trees like throwing stars. Took a bunch a pictures.
Great documentary! I remember that day. I live in Amherst and that day I knew storms were going to be bad. I looked up at the sky at one point and saw a little bit of green. I was like this cant be happening. Then the sirens went off at UMASS. That freaked me out!
its almost been 13 years since the tornado... i was 1 years old in holoyoke and i learned there was a tornado later in my life. My dad was "Chased" by it while he worked in springfield at the time. he got off memorial bridge, heading north to holyoke on 1-91, and the tornado somehow crossed and turned to follow him, the continued to its path
I guess you probably don't remember much, being 1 years old at the time! I'm glad your dad was ok. I was watching videos online at work at the time. I remember seeing it go over that bridge full of cars and trucks at rush hour. It tossed a truck over but nobody was hurt there.
I remember this day so clearly, even though I was 10 or so at the time. Where the tornado originated in Westfield was really close to where I live at the time. To this day, some parts of Springfield haven't fully recovered
Same. I was in 8th grade and I drove over that bridge two minutes before it touched down, I was living in Holyoke but I was going to church in Agawam that day. I remember it like it was yesterday
This is late but I'm from Springfield. My dad was in West Springfield at the time and had to drive almost through the tornado to get to my brother and I (we were home alone, he was 9 and I was 7). My mom had to drive under trees and saw that guy that was crushed by that oak tree to death. Now we live in North Carolina were my fear of tornadoes strengthened.
I remember very well, I'm a truck driver out of upstate NY and was unfortunately in Springfield when that hit. I don't remember it being that bright out though. It was extremely dark where I was.
i’m from 16 acres i saw a tornado warning on tv and didn’t think anything of it walked to my friends house around 3 o’clock and the moment we got inside the whole neighborhood by montessori schools was torn up
Wow great documentary. You really have a talent for this and should absolutely to do more of these tornado docs and anything else that interests you as well!! You are extremely talented and do a fantastic job of making the documentary interesting. The shots, editing. Everything is great!
i remember when this happened, i'm from Connecticut so i didn't really experience it but i'm pretty close to Springfield. i remember driving through the devastation and holy did it scare me. never witnessed anything like that before.
I was at work at the time the tornado hit. I work outdoor events in the city of Boston and being the weather person on the team, I immediately went to my supervisors to tell them the news. On that day, I remember I was keeping a close eye on the storm before it reached the city (usually takes a storm about 3 hours to go from Springfield to Boston), preparing to give the call for the staff to head indoors. Luckily, the storm weakened by the time it reach Boston but it gave an intense lightning show.
I remember there were tornado warnings in my area in Walpole, MA that day. It was a very stormy day all around on June 1st, 2011. I watched as they broadcasted this tornado on my news channel since I already had it on.
I was in Ware Massachusetts. I remember hunkering down in the basement with my mom and sister. I was 5 at the time and I was terrified. I'm still at the very same house 10 years later.
I was 11 but lived up in Essex County. Everyone heard about it and I remember one other kid saying he got dismissed because his mom was worried about the tornado. Which thinking about it now was kinda weird because Springfield is pretty far from where we are.
Fantastic video man! I remember watching this live from Boston area on tv, I was really into weather at the time and normally watched the severe t- Storm warning coverage, but I knew this was so much worse. Crazy stuff. I followed the tornado path earlier this year from Brimfield to Springfield, crazy how much change can be seen this many years after. (Really was most noticeable on route 20, by the Brimfield trail (hiking) and trailer park you mentioned.
Great job in making this historic documentation in the history of mass .i lived in Springfield Holyoke and worc I do remember that day but waching this have gave me more info that I knew thank you excellent work
This should have way more views. Fantastic job! Still can’t believe it wasn’t an EF4. Also that mother who died shielding her baby should be a state hero.
I lived in downtown Springfield and was walking to the store when this happened…I hid in the basement of the store with the owner… afterwards we walked toward the Mass Mutual Center to see if we could help anyone… it was devastating… I will never forget it
Best one so far on TH-cam. My brother, Andy Wolan, did a few compilations on the tornado. Had more intense footage. Congratulations on this fine work! Bravo!
Great video bud, it deserves more views for sure. I also live out in western Massachusetts and had a crazy experience happen during one summer afternoon storm. So much so I sent a few pictures to channel 7 and they put them on air lmao.. But at the time I was 28 and had/have never seen anything quite like it. It was legit my house and a couple others and everything was fine but what had happen was barnone the most intense microburst and it was incredible. I have a back porch where me and the kids love watching the thunderstorms roll in and so one did. The first few gust of wind where normal but all of a sudden you could here a distant roar, also this was before any rain started to fall but out from the roar came the most intense wind I've ever seen. Every single tree was at a 90 degree angle and we had a few old growth trees that just up rooted in seconds, patio furniture and all that was flown countless feet away and the sound of every branch coming down was unlike anything I could explain. I look forward to seeing more, I love mother nature and her power. Like ice storm in 08/09 or that Halloween blizzard we got where the next day driving around looked like bombs had dropped. Weather is truly and unequivocally OP so it's cool to come across a channel like yours that's passionate about it while being from the same state. I wish you the best bud and good luck with everything brotha.
The 2011 tornado rampage continues. It started with the now forgotten April 14, 15, and 16 outbreak that occurred from Texas and Oklahoma all the way to North Carolina. Then the Midwest, especially St. Louis, would be hit (the airport) on the 22nd. Then the lethal 2011 Super Outbreak (Tuscaloosa), and then Joplin on May 22nd. It's not unprecedented for Massachussetts to have tornadoes, by the way. Worcester had an F4 tornado in 1953.
My Mother and I as well as our miniature poodles were next door watching this tornado as it literally took some of Rosemead apartments. The sign was the only thing that was damaged. I think what saved us was the apartment was made of bricks and we were lower than Rosemead. I went to work at 10p.m. and saw the damage east of where we had lived in Southbridge, MA and as awful as it was at night, but it was much worse than what I had seen the next morning as I came home from work! Yikes!
In Monson, a house just a few away from my grandfathers was completely flipped over. My parents have footage of the damage in his backyard and the center of the town, from the next day.
I remember that day, I lived in the sixteen acres of springfield, Mass...my dad stay upstairs with our husky Nico while me and my sister including my mom were in the basement...I was happy it didn't destroyed my childhood home but I wasn't happy when we step outside and drive around springfield and saw the real chao in the city...it been so long since the horrible day happened and my aunt and uncle use to live in connecticut before they move to South or North Carolina then came back to Massachusetts. It came down when I got out of school and I actually felt like something was wrong because of Pressure and the heat wasn't good but I thought it was my imagination because I was a kid, now I'm a teenager almost a adult and I should've listen to my gut feeling.
I'll never forget that day. I broke up with my college boyfriend and I ended up driving alongside a freaking tornado as I was trying to outrun it down a side road
@HolidaeSims - Yikes!! Did you feel like the Universe was trying to tell you something? Hope all worked out well for you after that. Certainly was a scary stinking memorable day.🌪
@JollyDeacs11 - That was the night of the Minnechaug prom. I tried to get home, but Stony Hill Rd was closed at Springfield St, so headed to Sixteen Acres to go around. Friendly's parking lot was the first place I had enough service to text my husband. Students were outside in their tuxes and gowns. Still couldn't get home, though - Tinkham was blocked right over the line. Got to Allen to Porter, but Stony Hill was blocked before Tinkham. Two hours driving to go nowhere. Finally left town and stayed at my mom's in Ludlow. Thankfully, my husband and our home were okay, we just lost some huge trees next to the driveway and house. One neighbor's roof got lifted right up, and the next neighbor lost 17 trees. Not a day you ever forget.
@@SharonPerson-hm9ds Sharon, that is amazing and you were right in the middle of everything. I'm still amazed at the trajectory and force of that storm.
Was Sturbridge Village affected by this tornado? Suprisingly Worcester looked like it as doomed but not a lot of damage. Video is very well done and I subscribed--thanks
The tornado missed Old Sturbridge Village by only half a mile! If you liked this video, check out my other channel dedicated to weather stuff here: th-cam.com/channels/GEZlX4V82wv7_Z2LsXtjPA.html
I was in greater Lowell, MA (technically Dracut, MA) when this happened. The sky was eerily calm and BRIGHT orange while this hit Springfield. We (my family and I) were all getting emergency alerts on our phones and on TV to find shelter. I was, and am still, surprised how things were during it 100 miles away where I was. I have relatives in South Hadley, a town near Springfield, and at first only knew there were touchdowns in western MA - that was scary (they were fine). Seeing the damage on the news was odd. I was surprised that it was so localized where it hit. We were all in our basement while this was happening, still getting emergency alerts, so we didn't know about this EF3 until after it ended that day. This was only 3 months after my dad passed away and 2 weeks before his wedding anniversary with my mum - it was very spooky to experience so near that, especially since his younger brother was in South Hadley and his older brother was in Wrentham.
@@spankylalaverture1151 Okay, then. Greater Boston. Both are geographically accurate statements. I could've said Dracut, but who the eff would know where Dracut, Massachusetts is. It's a cow-town! I hate Dracut. Full of snobs. I love Lowell. People mind their own business and actually respect each other there.
@@helRAEzzzer - I'm in Western Mass outside of Springfield. The tornado came within yards of our home, and uprooted huge trees next to our driveway. When you said who would know where Dracut is, I said 'me', because relatives are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen (next town over for those unfamiliar with the area). That was a horrid weather here. Tornado in June, then less than 2 months later a microburst - that one took out more trees - then finally, the Halloween snowstorm, 8 very cold days with no water, no heat and no power. Was happy when 2011 was over.
@SharonPerson-hm9ds Oh wow! I'm currently in Fitchburg, and Dracut is, at best, "i think I've driven through there" status to locals. I'm sorry about your home when this tornado hit! I have family in South Hadley. Luckily, they were just far enough away from the tornadoes path. My uncle from South Hadley also just dodged the recent Florida hurricane (he bought a vacation home after selling his insurance company, Lambert and Prior insurance). I think i should have him pick my next lottery numbers! 😂
@helRAEzzzer You seem to be moving closer and closer to Western Mass; a little further west, and you'll be here! Happy to hear that your uncle's home in Florida is okay. What a horrific storm. Unbelievable financial damage, but the worst part is how many people have died. Every day the number rises; at last count, it was 223 people, and hundreds more still unaccounted for. So very, very sad. Our prayers and support go out to all of those affected.💔🙏
And then the late October 2011 snowstorm. Widespread 10+ inches in southern New England. Many trees and lines came down and power was out for a week or more for many people.
Being originally from Iowa the only thing absent from the June 1st tornado videos is the hum of tornado sirens. Springfield had functioning sirens, they had fallen into disrepair and some are still visible.
Live in jersey at the time but storm chase but had weather channel on and what ever the news station was that had the tornado crossing the river was insane to watch
I remember walking out of school and it being extremely hot and humid, there was definitely something off I lived in Holyoke at the time but was driving to church after school in agawam My aunts book store that she owns had the back part of it destroyed and it passed down the street from my grandparents
Wow! I had no clue this thing had such a long track. I was living in Northampton at the time, and being a millennial without TV I had the impression it was just a minor tornado that damaged some brick buildings in Springfield. All the online videos having been taken by people in and around Springfield didn't help that impression.
I was on my way back from NY and it started to Hail about half inch then a big wind pushed my car,and 20 seconds it was over we got hit from behind,never seen it coming
Tldr: tornadoes are showing more and more to have hot spots and in Massachusetts it seems from North to Northwest of Springfield down to Sturbridge but as North as Worcester itself in 1953 Worcester just really got clipped by the Northern end however it was very populated There our patterns I keep an eye on I guess is all I meant below That's weird because they seem to be coming from the southeast but some of them seem to be coming directly east and some of them seem to be coming from the northwest heading south east which probably contributed to the windsheer but it still took the general direction I expect them to take when they hit this area obviously they usually come from the west but it still seems that by the time this cell got organized it was moving kind of southeast so although I'm not 100% right about the direction of the cells when they enter the state I still stand by my theory about a pattern between cells that start from here to New Jersey coming from the Southwest going east or Southeast when they start spinning Springfield is actually the area of the entire state to most likely get a tornadic storm however it seems to happen once a generation although every 10 years or so there is a reported tornado somewhere in the state but they usually come from Northwest and head Southeast the 1953 Worcester tornado had a similar path it just started a little East of where this one did but they're always heading south south east they even have radar scans of the one from 1953 it doesn't reveal as much but it did start near the quabbin reservoir and on southeastern Clifton Northern edge of Worcester and there's arguably EF5 damage or F5 damage at the time in the Great Brook valley housing development in Worcester which is why some of the buildings are different you can actually kind of tell where it went because of the newer apartment buildings at are clearly still more recently but it took a city bus which wait a lot more back then and threw into the Curtis apartments building for anyone who's from the area so basically from Michelle gas station at the end of Lincoln Street near the Great Brook valley development and I took a bus and threw it from that gas station across the street into one of those brick buildings But yeah we had a classic triple point scenario just like a 1953 where we're between a warm front and a cold front and as of 2022 I seen similar conditions likely in this area like I said I always pay more attention to storms that come from the Northwest and heading to Southeast they have the best opportunity to take advantage of the wind shear and low-level Jets and rotate and the storm in this video had a classic hook signature with a degree ball a few miles wide which is likely also the mesocyclone 4k.cape is a lot
I drove over that bridge back into agawam heading to thse door in suffield 10 mons before it hit. Truly the most spectacular day of towering motherships spinning and carving up the dense country side. The rfd was intense.
Want to see more videos like this? Check out the June First channel where I make more videos like this! Link: th-cam.com/channels/GEZlX4V82wv7_Z2LsXtjPA.html
Is this storm the reason for your June first channel a
Name
@@Gevoface yes. I witnessed this tornado.
Well done documentary. I was a 10 year old boy at the time in North Brookfield MA. That day, I traveled to Sturbridge and missed the Tornado by 5 minutes. I remember walking out to leave and the sky was green and unlike anything I had ever seen. Upon getting home and realizing what was happening, the second super cell above the Springfield one was bearing down on us. We witnessed a funneI coming up over the trees in our backyard. Cowering in a basement when you hear that roar is something I never want to experience again. I have never been the same since that day, and was the closest to death that I’ve ever felt. Very cautious now when it comes to bad storms here.
West Springfield, my hometown. I had just missed the tornado by maybe a few minutes. I got down to Park Avenue when I started to see the damage that had been done. I came back the next day and saw the whole Merrick section. The tornado trashed the area.
This monster looks like it could've been an EF-4... Congrats on pursuing something amazing... all the best
What a great video. I was 7 or 8 when the tornado came thru. We had a house in 16 Acres, but I was in Wilbraham at the time it went thru downtown Spfld. My mom was home with my baby brother in the basement, and she could hear it as it went by. Some neighbors' houses were demolished, but ours was untouched, thank god. I remember that we went to our grandparents house in chicopee cause they were the only ones with power since they had undergroud power lines. Crazy day I'll never forget.
I was 17, just driving back towards winding ridge where my parents' place was on my last driving lesson when it touched down behind my parents' house. I'll never forget it
I’m from Connecticut, and we all still remember that tornado. I myself was almost hit by a tornado in 2010 by an EF1, but the Springfield EF3 was definitely a shock to us all, the Connecticut Science Center to this day still has the video playing on loop in one of the exhibits.
Even in areas often hit by tornadoes , I imagine it's a shock to see one and know it's eminent. Then take a region that's never or seldom gets threatened, like Maryland at the University or this tornado must be life changing.
I am slowly trying to learn of every tornado that's made any significant impact so thanks for sharing this. I wasn't aware of this one.
Great video about one of the most traumatic days I've ever experienced.
Walking home from the bus that day in downtown Springfield, I remember it was eerily calm. There was something very still in the atmosphere that I took note of even before the tornado. My mom walked home from work from her office and made it there maybe 30 minutes before we watched the tornado approach us on live tv. We were frozen and had no idea what we were supposed to do on the 5th floor of an apartment building. We were one of the few buildings not touched but when it passed by our window it sounded like a train and hurt my head immensely with pressure. It made every other building look like doll houses, ripped in half. God was good to us.
Southbridge Ma still shows the effects of this tornado on the houses on Rt 169 which is close to Rt 20 and Charlton MA. I was at work in Northborough and corporate was kept giving my store updates. If I wasn't at work I would have been home watching the weather. Mother nature does what she wants. My heart still goes out to the people and towns that were effected by the tornado. Also if you're interested there was a major tornado in Worcester MA May 21 1953.
I was working in Springfield on this day, got out of work just in time to get in my car, turn the radio on and hear the warning that it had touched down and was headed east! That was a nail-biting ride home back to Brookfield, knowing it wasn't too far behind me! Great work on this video!
Very well done! Thank you. I’m from Mass, an EF3 here was a shock. But the commentary from people who filmed it ... 😂 Stuff you’d never hear in the Midwest.
Lol seriously though
We don't have them in the state of maine. Just once in a while. Wow we. Had 1 20 years ago and it wasn't too good. Tore tje roof off of our barn blew windows out of house. A mess everywhere. I cannot imagine what the mid westerners go threw.
Idk the strongest Tornado in MA but here in CT I can tell you it’s the Windsor Locks Tornado in 1979 a F4 witch would be Equivalent to a EF5 I believe you translated it to the EF scale but I’m not sure about that so don’t quote me
@@CharlesNYR Ohhhh. Vey interesting! I’d heard about that but not the F scale rating. Makes sense though, the NE’s “tornado alley” such as it is, are Western Mass, CT & NY.
To be fair us Midwest folk are to busy getting are beer and lawn chiars to watch it 😂😂
Great job Ethan. You really captured a lot of great information.
I remember exactly where I was on this date 11 years ago. I lived in Monson. I was in my basement, praying, thinking I was gonna die. Lost my home and brand new car in about 40 seconds. Never wanna do that again.
Good that you were OK, but that does sound terrifying! Could you hear the tornado while it passed over your property??
Worcester, Massachusetts is a massive city near Springfield in central Massachusetts. In 1953, there was an F4 tornado in Worcester.
Good video. A friend owns One Stop junk yard in Brimfield, MA. 2 employees barely escaped by hiding under steel stairs as it passed directly overhead. Aproximly 90% of the junk yard was destroyed. All the buildings. The amount of destroyed cars was mind blowing. Countless classic cars as well as customer cars. To this day, it has never been the same. There are still reminders all over the yard in the form of ruined vehicles. This event changed so many lives forever.
Is that Dave?
Great video. I remember this day very vividly. I was usually driving home on 91 from work at that time and I was usually right in Springfield around that time, but my work needed me to go to New York for a few days and I ended up watching it on tv at the hotel after getting sunburnt laying by the pool cuz it was hot AF that day. That year was crazy had a tornado, hurricane irene, Halloween snowstorm outta nowhere. Can't believe it's been 10 years.
That Halloween snowstorm was NUTS! I was out plowing during it and you could see the sky light up from transformers exploding all over! The trees snapping sounded like bombs going off! Trees across roads out of nowhere, no power or hot water for 2 weeks in some places! The area looked like a warzone!
@derrickdorsey247- On July 26, 2011, less than 2 months after the June 1 tornado, Wilbraham had a microburst in some of the same areas that were affected by the tornado.
On the north side of our home we had a few huge trees uprooted during the tornado; one still left standing on that side of the house toppled during the microburst (likely weakened by the tornado). We were without power for days on end.
The Halloween snowstorm did less damage to our property, but we were without power, heat, and water, for 8 very cold, dark days.
Definitely the worst weather year I ever endured in over 50 years.
Being a postal worker I saw the damage in Sprfld first hand, had to find a way to get thru the damage, downed trees, lines, closed roads etc, to the neighborhood stations to collect the mail. It was surreal, unbelievable. I missed the downtown direct hit, having left a Main St PO 5 minutes before it hit Main St. I saw opposite direction traffic backing up behind me on the highway, unaware that traffic in that direction was watching the tornado pass over
Being a weather geek for all my life it makes sense that the tornado was lifting as it reached my home town.
There might of been another mini tornado outside of westfield mass on route 20 heading towards Chester. Me, my brother and father were on our way to deliver firewood up to Chester. The valley is narrows just after passing the route 90 overpass. The wind speed increased that a micro tornado formed in the valley. Strong enough to over power the water in the river for brief period. It also almost lifted our truck. A late 90's dodge ram extended cab with three heavy guys in it and a half cord of wood. It was very freaky.
I worked brimfield 2 hours after it hit. I had never seen anything like it in my life. Truly unbelievable. Roofs ripped off houses and placed in their front yards. I saw shingles in Sturbridge impaled in trees like throwing stars. Took a bunch a pictures.
Great documentary! I remember that day. I live in Amherst and that day I knew storms were going to be bad. I looked up at the sky at one point and saw a little bit of green. I was like this cant be happening. Then the sirens went off at UMASS. That freaked me out!
its almost been 13 years since the tornado... i was 1 years old in holoyoke and i learned there was a tornado later in my life. My dad was "Chased" by it while he worked in springfield at the time. he got off memorial bridge, heading north to holyoke on 1-91, and the tornado somehow crossed and turned to follow him, the continued to its path
I guess you probably don't remember much, being 1 years old at the time! I'm glad your dad was ok. I was watching videos online at work at the time. I remember seeing it go over that bridge full of cars and trucks at rush hour. It tossed a truck over but nobody was hurt there.
I'm from mass, and was driving from NY to mass when hail half Inch in size mixed with rain from behind
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Very well constructed, produced, and informative doc about the June 1 tornado. Nice job.
flew into Bradley right after this, big cut in the woods
I remember this day so clearly, even though I was 10 or so at the time. Where the tornado originated in Westfield was really close to where I live at the time. To this day, some parts of Springfield haven't fully recovered
Same. I was in 8th grade and I drove over that bridge two minutes before it touched down, I was living in Holyoke but I was going to church in Agawam that day. I remember it like it was yesterday
This is late but I'm from Springfield. My dad was in West Springfield at the time and had to drive almost through the tornado to get to my brother and I (we were home alone, he was 9 and I was 7). My mom had to drive under trees and saw that guy that was crushed by that oak tree to death. Now we live in North Carolina were my fear of tornadoes strengthened.
I’ll never forget that Wednesday
I remember very well, I'm a truck driver out of upstate NY and was unfortunately in Springfield when that hit. I don't remember it being that bright out though. It was extremely dark where I was.
i’m from 16 acres i saw a tornado warning on tv and didn’t think anything of it walked to my friends house around 3 o’clock and the moment we got inside the whole neighborhood by montessori schools was torn up
Wow great documentary. You really have a talent for this and should absolutely to do more of these tornado docs and anything else that interests you as well!! You are extremely talented and do a fantastic job of making the documentary interesting. The shots, editing. Everything is great!
Thank you! All of my latest weather-related docs can be found on this channel: th-cam.com/channels/GEZlX4V82wv7_Z2LsXtjPA.html
i remember when this happened, i'm from Connecticut so i didn't really experience it but i'm pretty close to Springfield. i remember driving through the devastation and holy did it scare me. never witnessed anything like that before.
great 👍 job on this documentary....this kid is going places!
Remember this day like it was yesterday
I was in 8th grade
I was at work at the time the tornado hit. I work outdoor events in the city of Boston and being the weather person on the team, I immediately went to my supervisors to tell them the news. On that day, I remember I was keeping a close eye on the storm before it reached the city (usually takes a storm about 3 hours to go from Springfield to Boston), preparing to give the call for the staff to head indoors. Luckily, the storm weakened by the time it reach Boston but it gave an intense lightning show.
I remember there were tornado warnings in my area in Walpole, MA that day. It was a very stormy day all around on June 1st, 2011. I watched as they broadcasted this tornado on my news channel since I already had it on.
I lived in North Canaan, right below Great barrington. I was 8 years old at the time and i remember the skies being yellow. It was so crazy
I was in Ware Massachusetts. I remember hunkering down in the basement with my mom and sister. I was 5 at the time and I was terrified. I'm still at the very same house 10 years later.
I think I get it why board games are rarely played. This proves that Twister is a crazy game
I was 11 but lived up in Essex County. Everyone heard about it and I remember one other kid saying he got dismissed because his mom was worried about the tornado. Which thinking about it now was kinda weird because Springfield is pretty far from where we are.
Fantastic video man! I remember watching this live from Boston area on tv, I was really into weather at the time and normally watched the severe t- Storm warning coverage, but I knew this was so much worse. Crazy stuff. I followed the tornado path earlier this year from Brimfield to Springfield, crazy how much change can be seen this many years after. (Really was most noticeable on route 20, by the Brimfield trail (hiking) and trailer park you mentioned.
Great job in making this historic documentation in the history of mass .i lived in Springfield Holyoke and worc I do remember that day but waching this have gave me more info that I knew thank you excellent work
I’m from Adams, Massachusetts. I was in Springfield the day of the tornado, eating at a taco bell on Riverdale Street. Was sketchy as fuck!!
This should have way more views. Fantastic job! Still can’t believe it wasn’t an EF4. Also that mother who died shielding her baby should be a state hero.
Saw it, lived it, got the t shirt 😆
Same here
I lived in downtown Springfield and was walking to the store when this happened…I hid in the basement of the store with the owner… afterwards we walked toward the Mass Mutual Center to see if we could help anyone… it was devastating… I will never forget it
Still in Springfield but not downtown any longer
Best one so far on TH-cam. My brother, Andy Wolan, did a few compilations on the tornado. Had more intense footage.
Congratulations on this fine work! Bravo!
im from mass and i was a baby when this touched down. my dad was on a bridge when to tornado hit springfield. he was in springfield
Great video bud, it deserves more views for sure. I also live out in western Massachusetts and had a crazy experience happen during one summer afternoon storm. So much so I sent a few pictures to channel 7 and they put them on air lmao.. But at the time I was 28 and had/have never seen anything quite like it. It was legit my house and a couple others and everything was fine but what had happen was barnone the most intense microburst and it was incredible. I have a back porch where me and the kids love watching the thunderstorms roll in and so one did. The first few gust of wind where normal but all of a sudden you could here a distant roar, also this was before any rain started to fall but out from the roar came the most intense wind I've ever seen. Every single tree was at a 90 degree angle and we had a few old growth trees that just up rooted in seconds, patio furniture and all that was flown countless feet away and the sound of every branch coming down was unlike anything I could explain. I look forward to seeing more, I love mother nature and her power. Like ice storm in 08/09 or that Halloween blizzard we got where the next day driving around looked like bombs had dropped. Weather is truly and unequivocally OP so it's cool to come across a channel like yours that's passionate about it while being from the same state. I wish you the best bud and good luck with everything brotha.
Using those cameras to spot it saved people's lives.
The 2011 tornado rampage continues. It started with the now forgotten April 14, 15, and 16 outbreak that occurred from Texas and Oklahoma all the way to North Carolina. Then the Midwest, especially St. Louis, would be hit (the airport) on the 22nd. Then the lethal 2011 Super Outbreak (Tuscaloosa), and then Joplin on May 22nd.
It's not unprecedented for Massachussetts to have tornadoes, by the way. Worcester had an F4 tornado in 1953.
Parts of Brimfield and Monson looked like they had EF4 damage to me.
That’s what I’m as thinking this tornado looked more like an ef4 at it’s peak strength
Interesting fact, the day of the tornado was the final day of one Western Mass weatherman (it was a planned final day, not the tornado though).
10 years...
I was checking the news because my family lives there. Horrific.
My Mother and I as well as our miniature poodles were next door watching this tornado as it literally took some of Rosemead apartments. The sign was the only thing that was damaged. I think what saved us was the apartment was made of bricks and we were lower than Rosemead. I went to work at 10p.m. and saw the damage east of where we had lived in Southbridge, MA and as awful as it was at night, but it was much worse than what I had seen the next morning as I came home from work! Yikes!
In Monson, a house just a few away from my grandfathers was completely flipped over. My parents have footage of the damage in his backyard and the center of the town, from the next day.
I remember that day, I lived in the sixteen acres of springfield, Mass...my dad stay upstairs with our husky Nico while me and my sister including my mom were in the basement...I was happy it didn't destroyed my childhood home but I wasn't happy when we step outside and drive around springfield and saw the real chao in the city...it been so long since the horrible day happened and my aunt and uncle use to live in connecticut before they move to South or North Carolina then came back to Massachusetts. It came down when I got out of school and I actually felt like something was wrong because of Pressure and the heat wasn't good but I thought it was my imagination because I was a kid, now I'm a teenager almost a adult and I should've listen to my gut feeling.
I'll never forget that day. I broke up with my college boyfriend and I ended up driving alongside a freaking tornado as I was trying to outrun it down a side road
@HolidaeSims - Yikes!! Did you feel like the Universe was trying to tell you something?
Hope all worked out well for you after that. Certainly was a scary stinking memorable day.🌪
@@SharonPerson-hm9ds I wish things worked out well for me after that but they didn't
I attended Minnechaug Regional HS and lived in Hamden. Wow! Great reporting.
@JollyDeacs11 - That was the night of the Minnechaug prom. I tried to get home, but Stony Hill Rd was closed at Springfield St, so headed to Sixteen Acres to go around. Friendly's parking lot was the first place I had enough service to text my husband. Students were outside in their tuxes and gowns. Still couldn't get home, though - Tinkham was blocked right over the line. Got to Allen to Porter, but Stony Hill was blocked before Tinkham. Two hours driving to go nowhere. Finally left town and stayed at my mom's in Ludlow. Thankfully, my husband and our home were okay, we just lost some huge trees next to the driveway and house. One neighbor's roof got lifted right up, and the next neighbor lost 17 trees.
Not a day you ever forget.
@@SharonPerson-hm9ds Sharon, that is amazing and you were right in the middle of everything. I'm still amazed at the trajectory and force of that storm.
Was Sturbridge Village affected by this tornado? Suprisingly Worcester looked like it as doomed but not a lot of damage. Video is very well done and I subscribed--thanks
The tornado missed Old Sturbridge Village by only half a mile! If you liked this video, check out my other channel dedicated to weather stuff here: th-cam.com/channels/GEZlX4V82wv7_Z2LsXtjPA.html
I was in greater Lowell, MA (technically Dracut, MA) when this happened. The sky was eerily calm and BRIGHT orange while this hit Springfield. We (my family and I) were all getting emergency alerts on our phones and on TV to find shelter. I was, and am still, surprised how things were during it 100 miles away where I was.
I have relatives in South Hadley, a town near Springfield, and at first only knew there were touchdowns in western MA - that was scary (they were fine). Seeing the damage on the news was odd. I was surprised that it was so localized where it hit. We were all in our basement while this was happening, still getting emergency alerts, so we didn't know about this EF3 until after it ended that day. This was only 3 months after my dad passed away and 2 weeks before his wedding anniversary with my mum - it was very spooky to experience so near that, especially since his younger brother was in South Hadley and his older brother was in Wrentham.
Nothing about Lowell is greater!
@@spankylalaverture1151 Okay, then. Greater Boston. Both are geographically accurate statements. I could've said Dracut, but who the eff would know where Dracut, Massachusetts is. It's a cow-town! I hate Dracut. Full of snobs. I love Lowell. People mind their own business and actually respect each other there.
@@helRAEzzzer - I'm in Western Mass outside of Springfield. The tornado came within yards of our home, and uprooted huge trees next to our driveway.
When you said who would know where Dracut is, I said 'me', because relatives are buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen (next town over for those unfamiliar with the area).
That was a horrid weather here. Tornado in June, then less than 2 months later a microburst - that one took out more trees - then finally, the Halloween snowstorm, 8 very cold days with no water, no heat and no power.
Was happy when 2011 was over.
@SharonPerson-hm9ds Oh wow! I'm currently in Fitchburg, and Dracut is, at best, "i think I've driven through there" status to locals. I'm sorry about your home when this tornado hit! I have family in South Hadley. Luckily, they were just far enough away from the tornadoes path. My uncle from South Hadley also just dodged the recent Florida hurricane (he bought a vacation home after selling his insurance company, Lambert and Prior insurance). I think i should have him pick my next lottery numbers! 😂
@helRAEzzzer You seem to be moving closer and closer to Western Mass; a little further west, and you'll be here!
Happy to hear that your uncle's home in Florida is okay. What a horrific storm. Unbelievable financial damage, but the worst part is how many people have died. Every day the number rises; at last count, it was 223 people, and hundreds more still unaccounted for. So very, very sad. Our prayers and support go out to all of those affected.💔🙏
Thanks for saying Monson right, but you missed a LOT of the major damage there! You can really see just how bad it was there to this day.
And then the late October 2011 snowstorm. Widespread 10+ inches in southern New England. Many trees and lines came down and power was out for a week or more for many people.
I lived this and for a time I was huddled on the basement floor under a table it was like maybe a minute of sheer terror
I wish this got more views because this was nicely made
Being originally from Iowa the only thing absent from the June 1st tornado videos is the hum of tornado sirens. Springfield had functioning sirens, they had fallen into disrepair and some are still visible.
Live in jersey at the time but storm chase but had weather channel on and what ever the news station was that had the tornado crossing the river was insane to watch
I remember walking out of school and it being extremely hot and humid, there was definitely something off
I lived in Holyoke at the time but was driving to church after school in agawam
My aunts book store that she owns had the back part of it destroyed and it passed down the street from my grandparents
This started in my backyard on munger hill. I was in 5th grade at that time and it tore apart part of the school
idk why im watching this when i live near springfeild
It never happens, so I wouldn't worry. Lol
@@PhoenixXFeatherz Famous last words.
Wow! I had no clue this thing had such a long track. I was living in Northampton at the time, and being a millennial without TV I had the impression it was just a minor tornado that damaged some brick buildings in Springfield. All the online videos having been taken by people in and around Springfield didn't help that impression.
I’m from central Massachusetts and I’m scared it almost close from the ef count in Worcester and hit my town it was a ef4
I remember this like it was yesterday I was in 8th grade
Now I’m 23
I was on my way back from NY and it started to Hail about half inch then a big wind pushed my car,and 20 seconds it was over we got hit from behind,never seen it coming
Nice job on this video
My dad seen this tornado in Worcester the trees were being uprooted and snapped but me and my brother were only 2 at the time
Get in Tha F'N Cella Dude!!!
Springfield, MA?
I was just a toddler when this happen.
I was 2
I was 5
Tldr: tornadoes are showing more and more to have hot spots and in Massachusetts it seems from North to Northwest of Springfield down to Sturbridge but as North as Worcester itself in 1953 Worcester just really got clipped by the Northern end however it was very populated
There our patterns I keep an eye on I guess is all I meant below
That's weird because they seem to be coming from the southeast but some of them seem to be coming directly east and some of them seem to be coming from the northwest heading south east which probably contributed to the windsheer but it still took the general direction I expect them to take when they hit this area obviously they usually come from the west but it still seems that by the time this cell got organized it was moving kind of southeast so although I'm not 100% right about the direction of the cells when they enter the state I still stand by my theory about a pattern between cells that start from here to New Jersey coming from the Southwest going east or Southeast when they start spinning
Springfield is actually the area of the entire state to most likely get a tornadic storm however it seems to happen once a generation although every 10 years or so there is a reported tornado somewhere in the state but they usually come from Northwest and head Southeast the 1953 Worcester tornado had a similar path it just started a little East of where this one did but they're always heading south south east they even have radar scans of the one from 1953 it doesn't reveal as much but it did start near the quabbin reservoir and on southeastern Clifton Northern edge of Worcester and there's arguably EF5 damage or F5 damage at the time in the Great Brook valley housing development in Worcester which is why some of the buildings are different you can actually kind of tell where it went because of the newer apartment buildings at are clearly still more recently but it took a city bus which wait a lot more back then and threw into the Curtis apartments building for anyone who's from the area so basically from Michelle gas station at the end of Lincoln Street near the Great Brook valley development and I took a bus and threw it from that gas station across the street into one of those brick buildings
But yeah we had a classic triple point scenario just like a 1953 where we're between a warm front and a cold front and as of 2022 I seen similar conditions likely in this area like I said I always pay more attention to storms that come from the Northwest and heading to Southeast they have the best opportunity to take advantage of the wind shear and low-level Jets and rotate and the storm in this video had a classic hook signature with a degree ball a few miles wide which is likely also the mesocyclone
4k.cape is a lot
Might want to specify which Springfield in the title…. There are quite a few
When they said Springfield, first thought is Missouri or Illinois. Didn't know there was a Springfield in Massachusetts.
Springfield, MA is the birthplace of basketball, home to the first armory in the United States, and the birthplace of Dr. Seuss.
Very historical city!
My grandmother lived in monson at got hit by it I was near it and scared
June 9th 1953 was a bad day the Worcester F4 Tornado
I remember this tornado it was pretty bad Was it an F 4 I remember it went over the water!!! It was all over the news
It's Hamden county not hampshire
2:50 looks like cloud seeding coming straight from NASA in Houston
Joplin lost 161 people!
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😔😔😔😔😔
I drove over that bridge back into agawam heading to thse door in suffield 10 mons before it hit. Truly the most spectacular day of towering motherships spinning and carving up the dense country side. The rfd was intense.