Severe storms tearing through communities like Easton, Bridgewater and West Bridgewater overnight.
7/30/23 UPDATE: The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado hit along the Foxboro/Easton line Saturday night.
Damage was reported Saturday night in towns like Easton and West Bridgewater after severe storms that had prompted tornado warnings in southeastern Massachusetts moved through the area.
Tornado warnings were issued for Plymouth and Bristol counties around 8:30 p.m., expiring about a half hour later at 9 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over West Bridgewater, or over Bridgewater, moving east at 45 mph at 8:31 p.m.
A little over an hour later, the West Bridgewater Fire Department said it was responding to multiple areas in town that were affected by the storm.
Photos shared on Twitter showed downed trees and ominous storm clouds.
Local
Residents were asked to stay indoors and call 911 to report an emergency, or National Grid to report a power outage.
In Bridgewater, police said Hill Street at Mill Street was temporarily closed due to a tree blocking the roadway.
In nearby Easton, there were numerous trees down.
The fire chief confirmed a tree did land on at least one house. No injuries were reported in that incident.
"My wife was actually on the porch when it happened, and then I heard the big noise and I come running out, and she's like, 'the tree almost hit me!' and I'm like 'Oh Jesus!'" homeowner Mark Butler said.
"I come out and took a look at the damage," Butler continued. "I called the fire department, they came out and checked it out, we're safe. We've got a little leak on the inside, a couple busted windows, but we'll be good."
