Meteorologist Brent McGrady

🌪️ 15 YEARS AGO TODAY 🌪️

On June 1, 2011, an EF-3 tornado changed our community forever.

In just over an hour, the tornado traveled 38 miles—touching down in Westfield at 4:17 PM and lifting northeast of Southbridge at 5:27 PM. The damage was devastating: 1,400 homes damaged or destroyed, 78 businesses impacted, and 200+ people injured. Three lives were lost.

But we remember not just the destruction—we remember the resilience, compassion, and strength of our neighbors who came together to rebuild.

Where were you on June 1, 2011? Do you have a memory of that day—how you stayed safe, how your community helped, or how you've recovered? Share your story in the comments below. Let's honor those affected and celebrate how far we've come together.

Thank you to all the first responders, volunteers, and neighbors who showed what community truly means. 🙏

Stay weather-ready. Stay First Alert.

🚨First Alert: Unsettled Weather Returns into the Weekend

⏱️In timely fashion, an unsettled and cool weather pattern will briefly return into the upcoming weekend. A potent system will track out of Canada and across western Mass bringing spotty showers and cool conditions with gusty winds into Saturday. Temperatures will struggle to get out of the 50’s, creating more of a March feel.

🌤️Conditions will drastically improve into Sunday, just in time to salvage the weekend with some sun returning and temperatures rebounding into the 70’s, more normal for May in New England.

🌧️ PATTERN CHANGE COMING 🌞

Hold tight through mid-week—we've got rain in the forecast, but some more warmth is finally on the way!

The workweek will start out dry, but an upper-level low is expected to keep things cool and unsettled through Wednesday and Thursday with showers and rain chances as it very slowly moves through. But here's the good news: a ridge of high pressure is shifting east across the nation, and that means warmer temperatures and more sunshine heading into next weekend and beyond.

What to expect:

💧 Wet weather mid-week (bring an umbrella!)

☀️ Clearing skies and warming trend by late week and next weekend.

🌡️ Highs climbing into the 70s and 80s by the weekend.

Perfect timing to get outside and enjoy the nicer pattern! Stay with us for updates as this system moves through.