Update 8:18 p.m.:
The National Weather Service is no longer issuing a "Tornado Watch."
Update 12:50 p.m.:
The National Weather Service's "Tornado Watch" expired at 12:45 p.m. A "Tornado Warning" issued by the weather service remains in effect until 9 p.m. For Fairfield County and surrounding counties.
Update 12:48 p.m.:
The state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection just stated in a tweet:
"In addition to possible tornados, these storms are capable of producing 1inch size hail and severe straight line winds."
Update 12:41 p.m.:
The National Weather Service has issued a "Tornado Watch" in effect through 9 p.m. in Fairfield County and other counties in the area. A "Tornado Watch" is a less severe situation than the "Tornado Warning" set to expire at 12:45 p.m.
Here is the statement:
1120 AM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
TORNADO WATCH 635 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM EDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS
CONNECTICUT COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE FAIRFIELD HARTFORD LITCHFIELD MIDDLESEX NEW HAVEN
Update 12:26 p.m.:
New information from the National Weather Service website as of 12:23 p.m.:
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 1223 PM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON NY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR... FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... WESTERN NEW HAVEN COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...
* UNTIL 1245 PM EDT...
* AT 1218 PM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO NEAR BETHEL...OR NEAR DANBURY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO NEWTOWN AND SOUTHBURY
Update 12:18 p.m.:
A National Weather Service Map shows the most danger is well north of Darien in Fairfield County (see red rectangle in map attached to this article).
Original article:
Here's the tornado warning just issued by the National Weather Service at 11:54 a.m. (boldface has been added):
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 1154 AM EDT SAT SEP 8 2012
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN UPTON NY HAS ISSUED A
* TORNADO WARNING FOR... FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... EASTERN WESTCHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NEW YORK...
* UNTIL 1230 PM EDT...
* AT 1153 AM EDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF RIDGEFIELD...OR 6 MILES NORTHWEST OF STAMFORD...MOVING NORTH AT 35 MPH.
* OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GEORGETOWN...DANBURY AND BETHEL.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WHEN A TORNADO WARNING IS ISSUED BASED ON DOPPLER RADAR...IT MEANS THAT STRONG ROTATION HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE STORM. A TORNADO MAY ALREADY BE ON THE GROUND...OR IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP SHORTLY. IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS DANGEROUS STORM...MOVE INDOORS AND TO THE LOWEST LEVEL OF THE BUILDING. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS. IF DRIVING...DO NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS.
Editor's note: This article originally was published on Saturday, Sept. 8. The time stamp has been changed for layout purposes on the Home page of Darien Patch.
