Updated 2:45 p.m.
The tornado warning has expired but the tornado watch remains in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday night.
Updated 1:12 p.m.
The Tornado Watch has been upgraded to a Tornado Warning.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON NY HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... NORTHWESTERN NEW HAVEN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... * UNTIL 145 PM EDT...
* AT 110 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR NEWTOWN...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO SOUTHBURY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... DOPPLER RADAR HAS INDICATED ROTATION WITHIN THIS STORM. WHILE NOT IMMEDIATELY LIKELY...A TORNADO COULD DEVELOP.
IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IN A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL INTERIOR ROOM.
Original Story posted at 12 p.m.:
The National Weather Service has just issued a tornado watch for Hamden, as well as much of the rest of the state.
The watch will remain in effect until 9 p.m. this evening.
From the National Weather Service:
- THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE DURING A TORNADO IS IN A BASEMENT. GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR OTHER PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
- IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING IN AN INTERIOR HALLWAY OR ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET.
- USE BLANKETS OR PILLOWS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND ALWAYS STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
- IF IN MOBILE HOMES OR VEHICLES...EVACUATE THEM AND GET INSIDE A SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER.
- IF NO SHELTER IS AVAILABLE...LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DITCH OR OTHER LOW SPOT AND COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR HANDS.
A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM SATURDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT AND NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.
Additionally, after stating yesterday that there was a slight risk of rain and thunder today, the weather service meteorologists have updated their forecast this morning.
Because of this, the service has issued a hazardous weather alert reporting severe storms are expected to impact the area today, bringing with them heavy rains and strong, gusty winds.
The dark, ominous clouds overhead are the early warning signs of a potentially dangerous storm entering the area, according to the National Weather Service.
As early as this afternoon, meteorologists are predicting that the storm will bring heavy rain and strong, gusty winds. A tornardo watch is also in effectuntil 9 p.m. for the following Connecticut counties:
- Fairfield
- New Haven
- Litchfield
- Hartford
- Middlesex
Hamden Patch will continue to provide updates on the weather, and how it might impact today's festival on the green, as it develops.
On this, the first week into what is National Preparedness Month and approaching the end of Hurricane Season, emergency officials advise residents to have a plan in place for extreme weather conditions that could lead to power outages and severe damage to property and infrastructure.
Ready.gov has a section dedicated to Tornado Safety Tips in which it advises, among other things, to:
- build an emergency kit
- have a family communication plan in place
- Keep an eye on changing weather conditions and be prepared to take shelter
