Quick update on the expected time line of when a line of thunderstorms will push through the region with some of these storms potentially strong to severe.
At the time of this writing (3:25 pm), a line of strong to severe thunderstorms is now entering eastern New York State and is expected to move into the Berkshires by about 5 pm. From there, here is an updated time line of when storms are expected -
Pioneer Valley of Western Mass: 5:30 pm.
Western Worcester Hills & I-84 corridor: 6 pm.
I-190, I-395, Route 140 & 146 corridors & Worcester Metro: 6:30 pm.
I-495 corridor: 7 pm.
All storms look to be out of the area by 8 pm.
Since these storms will arrive a couple of hours earlier than previously forecast, it is expected that they may still have a punch to them as far east as I-495 and even 128.
This means that the thunderstorms that move through Western Mass during the 5:30-6 pm time frame and Central Mass during the 6-7 pm time frame may be strong to severe with wind gusts of up to 65 mph, frequent lightning and torrential downpours.