The Bay State is not one which is normally associated with tornadoes having only seen 152 twisters in the past 60 years – up until last week. Massachusetts took a big hit last week though as a massive tornado ripped through the Springfield area killing four people.
Satellite imagery released by the USGS and NASA (below) shows the scar the EF3 tornado left on the earth as it ripped a path 39 miles long. The image taken by Landsat shows the path of the half-mile wide tornado as it cut through Sturbridge and beyond.
The twister first touched down near Westfield and then moved into Springfield after crossing the Connecticut River. Both areas saw extensive damage to buildings and homes as the twister moved through.
As it moved east the tornado debarked trees and struck the town of Monson where extensive damage was seen. It eventually hit Brimfield Sate Forest and then the Southbridge Airport.
When it was done, four people were killed and 200 injured. Latest estimates put the damage cost at $90 million making it the most costly natural disaster in the state’s history.
Two smaller, EF1 rated tornadoes also struck nearby on the same day. One caused a damage path 3.6 miles long and the other 1.3 miles long.
Related:
- Slideshow: Extensive damage seen across Springfield, Massachusetts in wake of tornado (Examiner.com)
- Video: Tornado rips through Springfield, MA and crosses the Connecticut River (Examiner.com)
