Tornadoes In Massachusetts? Rare, But Not Impossible

17:41

June 02, 2011

This photo from June 10, 1953 shows an aerial view of the tornado ravaged Assumption College campus in Worcester, Mass., where three of the 94 people killed in a rare tornado lost their lives. (AP)

The tornado that tore through sections of western Massachusetts Wednesday was a rare event. But it's not unprecedented.

We look at the science of tornadoes and discuss why the freak weather event in Massachusetts is just that. And we'll take a look at the history of tornadoes in Massachusetts, including the Worcester tornado of 1953 that claimed over 90 lives.

Guests:

Thomas Grazulis, climatologist, director, Tornado Project
Howard Bluestein, professor of meteorology, University of Oklahoma

This program aired on June 2, 2011.