We received the following press release at 2:34 p.m. regarding Gov. Malloy’s decision to partially activate the state’s Emergency Operations Center to monitor the severe weather forecast for later this afternoon and evening:
Governor Dannel P. Malloy will partially activate the state’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 3:30 PM today to monitor and manage any issues that may arise as a result of possible severe weather predicted to enter the state this afternoon.
“After assessing the situation with emergency management officials, I have directed a partial activation of the EOC beginning at 3:30 today,” Governor Malloy said. “This will allow us to better coordinate with municipalities and state agencies, and respond quickly should we have power outages or other damage from these potential storms. I encourage Connecticut residents to closely monitor weather conditions throughout the day and evening, and take proper precautions to stay safe.”
Currently, severe weather is forecasted to enter the state from the northwest later this afternoon and continue throughout tonight. Frequent lightening, strong wind gusts up to 58 mph, hail, and flash flooding is possible with these storms.
The EOC will be staffed by the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Division of the State Police, Department of Public Health, Department of Transportation, Military Department, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, State Fire Coordination, Connecticut Light & Power and United Illuminating.
Below are some recommended severe thunderstorm safety tips:
- Watch the sky for approaching dark clouds, increasing winds, and flashes of light.
- If thunder can be heard, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning, and you should take shelter immediately.
- Keep up to date on weather forecasts through local TV broadcasts and radio.
- Avoid using electrical equipment/appliances, and preferably unplug things such as televisions, air conditioners, and computers. Electrical lines are excellent conductors of electricity.
- Do not take baths or showers during storms, as water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Use as little water as possible during storms.
- Draw blinds and shades over windows as a precaution to prevent windows shattering into your home, should they be broken by blowing debris.
- Stay away from all types of bodies of water. If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately.
- Secure outdoor objects, such as lawn furniture, that could blow away or cause damage or injury.
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The following tornado watch and severe thunderstorm outbreaks for this afternoon and this evening have been posted by the National Weather Service:
Tornado Watch
210 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2012
TORNADO WATCH 525 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
CTC005-270100-
/O.NEW.KWNS.TO.A.0525.120726T1810Z-120727T0100Z/
CT
. CONNECTICUT COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE
LITCHFIELD
Severe Thunderstorm Outbreaks
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY
145 PM EDT THU JUL 26 2012
NORTHERN LITCHFIELD-SOUTHERN LITCHFIELD-NORTHERN BERKSHIRE-SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE, etc.
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF… TORRINGTON… OAKVILLE… NEW MILFORD… TERRYVILLE… PITTSFIELD… NORTH ADAMS… GREAT BARRINGTON… LEE… etc.
…SEVERE THUNDERSTORM OUTBREAK POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING…
THERE IS A THREAT FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE MAIN HAZARDS WILL BE DAMAGING WIND GUSTS… LARGE HAIL AND EVEN ISOLATED TORNADOES. THE AREA WITH THE GREATEST THREAT APPEARS TO BE JUST SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL REGION… ALTHOUGH THE ENTIRE REGION OF EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. THE TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE THREAT WILL BE GREATEST WILL BE FROM AROUND 3 PM THROUGH MIDNIGHT.
EXTENSIVE CLOUD COVER EARLIER IN THE DAY HAS GIVEN WAY TO PARTIAL SUNSHINE THIS AFTERNOON… ESPECIALLY FROM THE MOHAWK VALLEY AND CAPITAL REGION SOUTHWARD. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR INSTABILITY TO BUILD… ALONG WITH HUMIDITY SURGING NORTHWARD INTO THE REGION ASSOCIATED WITH A WARM FRONT. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP AND MOVE ACROSS THE AREA.
KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY AND BE AWARE OF POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING WEATHER DEVELOPING TODAY.
SEVERE WEATHER WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED THIS AFTERNOON.
FOR THE LATEST UPDATES…PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ALBANY
The sky looks ominous as the storm clouds move in. View of the large maple tree in front of the NewHartfordPlus HQ. Photo: NewHartfordPlus archives
