Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Most of New England

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 PM

SPC WW 271

Isolated tornadoes will be possible, but the most likely effects will be severe damaging winds and hail over an inch in diameter.  Right now the storms are in Eastern New York and Maine.  In fact Maine has the highest tornado threat in the country today

SPC tornado probabilities 

The wind threat is much more widespread

SPC severe wind probabilities 

The hail threat is lower than the wind threat, but greater than the tornado threat

SPC severe hail probabilities 

Here is the current (as of 155 PM) radar out of Albany, NY

NWS Albany Radar 151 PM

Surface based energy is increasing rapidly with the heating of the day.  There are several pockets of 3000 J/kg of CAPE, or convective available potential energy.  

17z SPC CAPE

As of noontime many areas in New England had dew points in the upper 60's/low 70's.  

16z NCEP RTMA Dew points

Temperatures as of 1 PM

2 m temps 1 PM (image weatherbell)

Cloud cover will not save us today, as it has several times in the past few weeks.  Here is the visible satellite as of 115 PM

Northeast Regional Visible Satellite (GOES_East, NOAA)

A strong surface cold front is pushing east toward the coast.  The warm sector is feeding right into New England

WPC surface analysis 1230 PM

At the upper levels a 500 mb trough is driving low pressure in Southern Ontario 

12z NAM 500 mb heights, winds (image weatherbell)

These storms will enter Western MA before 3 PM.  They reach Springfield around 5-6, and Worcester around 7-8.  Will update this as necessary