Thunderstorms galore -- and more in store

By Globe Staff

Keep an eye to the sky. Thunderstorms are rumbling into the state again.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for areas of both western Massachusetts and the South Shore.

It's all par for the course in a summer that has been especially thunderstormy. Twenty-two thunderstorms have been recorded so far this year at Logan International Airport, compared with the normal 30-year average of 12. In the first eight days of this month alone, nine have been logged, compared with the normal monthly average of two, the National Weather Service said.

"I think that we're looking at ripe conditions for another occurrence of possible severe weather this afternoon," said weather service meteorologist Charlie Foley.

The weather service is warning that scattered severe thunderstorms are a strong likelihood between noon and 8 p.m. today. The storms could include large hail and damaging wind gusts, while lightning strikes could cause power outages. The accompanying downpours may cause urban flooding.

Forecasters may also have official word today on whether a tornado hit western Massachusetts yesterday. People reported funnel clouds in Amherst, Sunderland, and New Salem.

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