Packardville, MA EF0 Tornado of September 1, 2013

Figure 1 depicts the surface observations at 5:00 pm EDT, which shows a stationary front in the northeastern United States. This front initiated thunderstorms across Massachusetts, which ultimately led to this tornado.

**Figure 1.** Surface analysis at 21Z on September 1, 2013 showing mean sea-level pressure (MSLP) contours, surface observations, fronts and pressure centres (WPC, 2017)

The Packardville, MA EF0 tornado of September 1, 2013 impacted Franklin County in Massachusetts. According to NOAA (2020), the EF0 tornado caused no fatalities, injuries or property damage. The tornado touched down southeast of Packardville at 6:25 pm EDT. The tornado travelled for 0.05 miles and had a maximum width of 10 yards.

**Figure 2.** Episode narrative for September 1, 2013 (NOAA NCEI, 2020).

Sources

NWS Weather Prediction Center Surface Analysis Archive. (2017). Surface analysis 21Z Sun Sep 1 2013. Retrieved from: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/web_pages/sfc/sfc_archive.php

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2020). Storm Events Database. Retrieved from: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/

National Centers for Environmental Information reports:

A Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation employee observed a waterspout on Quabbin Reservoir in New Salem, MA. He was able to snap two pictures of the storm, one showing a funnel and another showing the funnel extended down to the water. The time has been approximated based on radar imagery. The waterspout was very short lived, never hit land, and did no damage and injured no people. Winds aloft were not conducive for tornadic development, but the environment was unstable and a surface front was moving through the region.

Sources

National Centers for Environmental Information reports:

Through the Eyes of Our Chasers