A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for parts of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties as well as other areas.
Severe thunderstorms are hitting Franklin and Hampshire counties Thursday afternoon, causing downed trees and traffic disruptions.
Interstate 91 was closes between mile marker 41 in Greenfield and Bernardston because of downed trees on the highway.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect until 5 p.m.
This is a developing story; MassLive.com will have more details as they become available.
Here is the NWS' Severe Thunderstorm Warning statement:
Severe Thunderstorm WarningSEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
CTC003-013-MAC011-013-015-027-092100-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SV.W.0042.110609T2000Z-110609T2100Z/BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
400 PM EDT THU JUN 9 2011THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A
* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
WEST CENTRAL WORCESTER COUNTY IN CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS...
NORTHERN HARTFORD COUNTY IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF WINDSOR LOCKS...
NORTHWESTERN TOLLAND COUNTY IN NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...
EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
HAMPDEN COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...SPRINGFIELD...CHICOPEE...
SOUTHERN HAMPSHIRE COUNTY IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF NORTHAMPTON...* UNTIL 500 PM EDT
* AT 400 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE
HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE
LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTH OF MIDDLEFIELD TO
31 MILES WEST OF TOLLAND...OR ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 17 MILES
SOUTH OF NORTH ADAMS TO 32 MILES NORTHWEST OF TORRINGTON...AND WAS
MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.* SOME LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE...CHESTER...WESTHAMPTON...
HUNTINGTON...BLANDFORD...RUSSELL...EASTHAMPTON...MONTGOMERY...
SOUTHAMPTON...SOUTH HADLEY...HOLYOKE...GRANBY...WESTFIELD...
GRANVILLE...BELCHERTOWN...WILBRAHAM...WEST SPRINGFIELD...WEST
BROOKFIELD...WARREN...WARE...SOUTHWICK...PALMER...NORTH
BROOKFIELD...MONSON...LUDLOW...LONGMEADOW...HAMPDEN...EAST
LONGMEADOW...AGAWAM...SUFFIELD...SIMSBURY...ENFIELD...EAST
GRANBY...BLOOMFIELD AND AVON.SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL...AS WELL
AS DEADLY LIGHTNING AND TORRENTIAL RAIN. GET TO SAFE SHELTER NOW...
INSIDE A STURDY BUILDING OR IN A VEHICLE. DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER
TREES. IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER...YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO BE STRUCK BY
LIGHTNING. DRIVERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR PONDING OF WATER AND AVOID
FLOODED ROADS.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM EDT
THURSDAY EVENING FOR SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM EDT THURSDAY EVENING FOR
NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS AND CENTRAL RHODE ISLAND.&&
LAT...LON 4214 7308 4216 7303 4230 7301 4233 7307
4237 7307 4230 7201 4178 7276 4185 7296
4189 7295 4190 7292 4197 7290 4197 7303
4203 7302 4204 7306 4211 7308
TIME...MOT...LOC 2000Z 280DEG 34KT 4245 7301 4212 7362