The National Weather Service says storm damage in the hardest hit areas in Massachusetts likely was from a "severe" tornado rated at least EF-3, meaning it had wind speeds between 136 and 165 miles per hour.
The weather service said Friday early information shows a tornado that moved from Westfield through Springfield and east to Monson and beyond got the classification of "EF-3 or higher" on the Enhanced Fujita Scale that goes from 0 to 5.
EF-3 tornadoes can cause "severe damage," including overturning cars and ripping off roofs.
Bob Thompson, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, told NBC 10 it appears the tornado was on the ground for approximately an hour, a rare occurrence for the Northeast.
"Most of the tornadoes we experience tend to be short lived, sometimes not more than a minute or two and often have a narrow and short track," he said. "This was a strong tornado with a long track and had extended time on the ground."
The National Weather Service said it was still conducting a detailed survey from the Wednesday storms that flattened more than 200 structures and killed at least three people.
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