Severe winds KO trees, bring tornado warning

According to Dellicarpini, National Weather Service officials will survey affected areas to determine if any tornados landed.

“The reports are still being collaborated,” Strauss said.

Still, communities throughout Central Massachusetts dealt with severe weather after the tornado warning expired at 8:30 p.m.

In Leominster, the center of the tornado warning area, severe weather overtook the city. Several lightning strikes were seen in rapid intervals with loud crackling sounds quickly following at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Approaching the area on Route 2, the sky quickly darkened and the rain began to fall slowly at first and then erupted in a downpour at about 8:30.

Vivid, clear lightning bolts struck from the clouds, and area fire officials responded to several calls for fires or lightning strikes

On Washington Street in Leominster, firefighters were investigating a possible lightning strike around on or near a house here.

Fitchburg experienced street flooding on Rollstone , Franklin, and Causeway streets, along with John Fitch Highway, said Lieutenant Kevin O’Brien of the Fitchburg police.

“We’ve got several streets flooded,” O’Brien said.

At least one family of three swam out of their car between Rollstone and Franklin Streets, he said. They reported water reaching their car door handles, according to O’Brien.