Figure 2 depicts the surface observations at 8:00 am EDT, which shows a low pressure system over Buffalo, NY with a cold front moving across the northeast United States. This front became the focus for intense thunderstorms across Massachusetts, which ultimately led to this strong F3 tornado.
The Westminster, MA F3 tornado of June 22, 1981 impacted Worcester County in Massachusetts. According to NOAA (2019), the F3 tornado caused no fatalities, but caused 3 injuries and $25 thousand dollars in property damage. The tornado touched down near New Templeton Road at 4:00 pm EDT. The tornado travelled for 7.1 miles and had a maximum width of 167 yards.
Sources
The Gardner News. (2019). June 23, 1981: Tornado devastates Hubbardston, Westminster and Winchendon. Retrieved from https://www.thegardnernews.com/news/20190622/headlines-of-past—june-23-1981-tornado-devastates-hubbardston-westminster-and-winchendon
NOAA Central Library. (2020). U.S. Daily Weather Maps. Monday June 22, 1981 [PDF]. Retrieved from https://library.noaa.gov/Collections/Digital-Collections/US-Daily-Weather-Maps
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (2019). Storm Events Database. Retrieved from: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/
