On the afternoon of June 1, 2011, an unusually long-tracked and powerful tornado caused significant damage in Hampden and Worcester Counties in Western and Central Massachusetts, including the city of Springfield, resulting in three fatalities (plus one indirect fatality), at least 200 injuries, and over 500 families being left homeless. The tornado, which was part of a severe weather event that occurred in portions of New England that day, received a final rating of EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with peak winds being estimated at 160 mph (260 km/h).
On May 30, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) noted the possibility of a severe weather event in the Northeastern United States in their outlook. A storm system was forecast to draw warm, moist air (with dew points over 60 °F (16 °C)) from the south, ahead of a driving cold front. In light of this, the SPC issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms across the area. As an upper-level trough moved over the Great Lakes, further moisture and warmth increased atmospheric instability in the area, raising the threat of a squall line or supercell thunderstorms. By June 1, the storm system moved over Ontario and Quebec, with a cold front trailing behind it over northern New England. CAPE values exceeded 4,000 J/kg, indicating an extreme amount of instability in the atmosphere, conducive to strong thunderstorms. Additionally, a strong upper-level jet stream brought significant wind shear, which, in combination with the atmospheric instability, indicated a significant severe weather threat, with the main effects expected to result from downburst winds and large hail, but with tornadoes possible. An EML, which emerged over Arizona on May 28, was also present and created abnormally steep lapse rates in the mid-levels of the atmosphere, further increasing instability.
Between 8:18 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. (EDT), severe storms producing 1 in (2.5 cm) hail developed over portions of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine; however, little if any impact resulted from these storms. At 10:05 a.m., the SPC issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the entire state of Vermont, much of northern New York, northeastern Pennsylvania and parts of western Massachusetts and Connecticut. By this time, a broken line of severe storms had developed over parts of western New York and northern Pennsylvania. With the storms gradually developing throughout the day and an increasing threat of tornadoes, a tornado watch was issued at 1:00 p.m. for much of New England, southern New York, eastern Pennsylvania and most of New Jersey. Around 2:00 p.m., severe storms with damaging hail, measured up to 2.75 in (7.0 cm), and winds around 60 mph (97 km/h) developed in eastern New York. These storms gradually tracked east-southeastward into Vermont and later New Hampshire. One particular supercell produced very large 3.25-inch (8.3 cm) diameter hail at Shaftsbury, Vermont after producing a funnel cloud and baseball sized hail across the border in New York State. At 2:43 p.m., the first of several tornado warnings in the area was issued for southern Coos County, New Hampshire.
Between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m., severe storms developed over western Massachusetts and prompted a tornado warning to be issued at 3:28 p.m. for parts of Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties. About an hour later, another warning was issued for Springfield, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas. Within minutes, a touchdown was confirmed near Springfield by local law enforcement and amateur radio operators.
The tornado first touched down at 4:17 p.m. EDT (20:17 UTC) in the Munger Hill section of Westfield, near Birch Bluffs Drive. Within Westfield, a total of 257 homes suffered damage, mostly ranging from broken windows to roof damage. However, 3 homes suffered extensive damage, including a house on Shaker Road which was ultimately condemned due to a tree piercing through the roof. Damage to homes and other structures was reported on Birch Bluffs Drive, Shaker Road, Falley Drive, Steiger Drive, Mallard Lane, Cardinal Lane, Glenwood Drive, Pontoosic Road, and Knollwood Drive. The tornado moderately damaged Munger Hill Elementary School, with two classrooms nearly destroyed and debris scattered throughout the school. The tornado removed a 20-foot section of roofing from the school and moved it several hundred feet away, dumping it in a swimming pool at a nearby home on Cardinal Lane. Only a handful of people were inside the school when the tornado struck, as pupils had already been dismissed for the day. Significant damage to trees and power lines occurred throughout Westfield. No fatalities or serious injuries occurred in Westfield as a result of the tornado; initial reports by state officials erroneously stated that two deaths occurred in Westfield.
The tornado briefly passed through the heavily forested northern section of Agawam, moving through Ridgeview Park and Robinson State Park. There were 25 acres (10 hectares) of damage at Robinson State Park, including damage to trees, roads, trails, day-use areas, and power lines. Multiple homes were damaged in Feeding Hills and North Agawam, although damage was relatively minor and no homes were destroyed. On River Street in North Agawam, power lines and telephone poles were torn down or twisted by the tornado. There were no tornado-related injuries or fatalities in Agawam, although an 18-year-old high school student was struck by lightning during the storm.
The tornado rapidly intensified as it moved into the city of West Springfield, causing extensive damage to industrial buildings and tearing off roofs and the upper floors of three-story apartment complexes. Additionally, a few homes collapsed due to the severity of structural damage. Throughout West Springfield, 88 buildings were destroyed and two people were killed. One woman, 39-year-old Angelica Guererro, was killed on Union Street when her triple decker home collapsed on top of her. She was protecting her 15-year-old daughter by climbing on top of her and shielding her from debris while they both took cover in a bathtub. Her daughter survived with serious injuries, along with her 46-year-old husband, who was critically injured by their home collapsing. Another fatality took place on Main Street when a 5 foot (1.5 m) wide oak tree fell on a vehicle, killing the driver, 23-year old Sergey Livchin. The tornado then moved east, crossing the Connecticut River and entering Springfield.
Upon entering Springfield, the tornado crossed over the Memorial Bridge, with a significant amount of vehicular traffic on the bridge. The tornado tipped a tractor-trailer onto its side, blocking the two eastbound lanes. There were no injuries or fatalities on the bridge, and none of the other vehicles were overturned. Video of the tornado crossing the river was broadcast live on multiple news stations, as cameras on top of the nearby Monarch Place skyscraper recorded the tornado as it crossed the river and entered the city from West Springfield. Footage of the tornado crossing the bridge was widely circulated in the days following the storm. The tornado caused extensive damage throughout Springfield, destroying over 500 buildings. According to the Springfield Fire Department, several injuries were caused by cars being overturned by the tornado in multiple different occurrences throughout Springfield.
After crossing the Connecticut River and the Memorial Bridge, the tornado moved into Metro Center, the most urban neighborhood in Springfield. The tornado caused extensive damage to Springfield's Connecticut River Walk Park, destroying much of the park's formerly lush tree canopy and large sections of its wrought-iron fences. Some 200-year-old heritage trees in Court Square were uprooted and scattered throughout the area. Damage to buildings in Metro Center was relatively minor, especially compared to the neighboring South End. A Hampden County assistant district attorney was seriously injured when she was struck by flying debris while she walked from the Hampden District Attorney office to her car. Multiple people narrowly avoided injury as the tornado sent broken glass flying from windows at the Hampden District Attorney office.