On July 26, severe storms were reported over western Massachusetts in same area struck by tornados this past June. The National Weather Service reported funnel clouds, but no touch downs were reported. One fatality was reported in Hinsdale, MA, but no other injuries or fatalities were reported.
There have been reports of tree and power line damages. Approximately 18,000 customers in Massachusetts and less than 15,000 customers in Connecticut are without power. Restoration of power is ongoing. The Regional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) was deployed to Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Command Center in support of this event. MEMA is not currently activated.
The Region I Public Assistance staff will deploy to 7 towns in Massachusetts this morning to assess damages.

Limited High Heat and Humidity Continues Over U.S.
Portions of the Central/Southern Plains and the Middle Mississippi Valley will continue to be hot. Temperatures will again top 100 in many locations today. Excessive heat continues to be forecasted across the Central Plains this weekend. Temperatures up to 110 degrees are possible.
Midwest:
A slight risk of severe thunderstorms extends across the Middle Mississippi Valley into parts of the Upper Great Lakes and the Central Plains. Heavy rain of 1 to 4 inches is possible from the thunderstorms causing some localized flooding over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley into the Upper Great Lakes today. The main threats are damaging wind gusts and hail, although a few tornadoes are possible in southern Wisconsin and northern Iowa. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast over the Northern and Central Plains through Thursday evening. A slight risk of severe thunderstorms is also forecast over a portion of the Northern and Central Plains with isolated large hail and wind a possible threat today. High temperatures range from the lower 80s in the northern tier to 105 or higher in southern Kansas.
South:
Hot temperatures continue over the northeast Southern Plains with temperatures in the 100âs. Temperatures will be near 10 degrees above average for parts of the Southern High Plains but will range in the upper 90s from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the upper 80s along the Carolina Coast. Showers and scattered thunderstorms are forecast over parts of the Central Gulf Coast to the Southeast today. Torrential downpours and localized flooding are possible with the greatest chance occurring along the Gulf Coast.
Northeast:
High pressure keeps the region mostly dry today. Scattered showers or thundershowers are possible in New England today. Showers and thunderstorms some with heavier downpours will develop along and ahead of the boundary over the Upper Midwest into parts of the Northeast and Northern Mid-Atlantic by Thursday. Temperatures will range from the 90s in the Mid-Atlantic to 70s in New England.
West:
Monsoonal thunderstorms are forecast over parts of the Desert Southwest into the Rockies during the afternoon and evening. Some storms may be strong to severe producing gusty winds and an isolated tornado in Northern/Central Plains. Storms in Four Corners Region may produce heavy downpours and localized flash flooding. Isolated late day thunderstorms are forecast for the Intermountain West. High temperatures will range from the 70s and 80s in the Northwest and northern Rockies to the 110s in the Desert Southwest.

Atlantic / Caribbean /Gulf of Mexico
Area 1 (Invest 90L) â At 2:00 a.m. EDT July 27, showers and thunderstorms associated with a tropical wave over the northwestern Caribbean Sea just to the south of the western tip of Cuba moving west-northwestward near 15 mph have become better organized over the past few hours, and surface observations suggest that a circulation could be forming about 125 miles east of Cancun, Mexico. If these trends continue, a tropical depression could develop later today. This system has a high chance (70%) of becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011:
National Preparedness Level: 2
Initial attack activity: LIGHT (168 new fires)
New Large Fires: 6
Large Fires Contained: 3
Uncontained Large Fires: 16
Type 1 IMT Committed: 1
Type 2 IMT Committed: 5
States affected: GA, NC, TX, OK, NM, CA, WY, CO, ID, & WA.
Wildfires
Oklahoma
Frankhoma-81 Fire, Sapulpa (Creek County)
The Frankhoma-81 Fire began on the morning of July 26 as brush fire in Sapulpa (Creek County), OK. Approximately 3,000 acres has burned and containment is unknown. Approximately 100 homes in community of Sapulpa are threatened and 350 persons were evacuated. A Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) was requested by the State and approved by Region VI on July 26, 2011.