UPDATED: Tornado Warning Downgraded to Watch for Norfolk County, Surrounding Areas

The National Weather Service has downgraded its Tornado Warning that was issued early Wednesday evening and stayed in effect until 6:30 p.m. back to a  until 11 p.m. Wednesday.

The Watch has been issued for parts of Norfolk County, including Medfield and along the east coast. The area affected stretches from southeastern Pennsylvania to Maine.

There is a chance of tornadoes, hail of up to two inches in diameter, thunderstorms, wind gusts up to 70 mph and lightning.

The NWS said a tornado watch means conditions “are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen to later statements for possible warnings,” said the NWS.

A Tornado Warning is issued when a tornado may have touched down or is expected to develop due to severe weather. Officials advise people in these areas to be on the lookout for “threatening weather conditions” and to listen for additional announcements and possible warnings during this time period.

The warning states, "The National Weather Service Doppler Radar was tracking a tornado near Brimfield (at about 5:09 p.m.), or 19 miles northwest of Putnam, moving east at 40 miles per hour. This is an extremely dangerous tornado with a history of major damage in the Springfield area."

Meanwhile, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning has also been issued for parts of Norfolk County and surrounding areas.

The thunderstorm is "capable of producing quarter-size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 miles per hour," the warning stated. The storm was located 18 miles northwest of Worcester and moving east at 40 miles per hour. 

"This storm was showing signs of strengthening and could produce a tornado at any time," the warning stated. 

In Medfield, thunderstorms and lightning began just before 5 p.m. and heavy rain began to fall shortly after. Medfield Police advised those at the Medfield High School boys' lacrosse state tournament game to head inside the school or home if possible as the tornado warning was issued. Players, coaches and spectators waited inside the school until shortly before 7 p.m., when the rain had lightened up enough and it was safe to leave.

The Medfield High School boys' lacrosse state tournament game against Dennis-Yarmouth was postponed and will be made up Thursday at 3 p.m. at the MHS turf. 

Medfield Chief of Police Robert Meaney Jr. said at 6:30 p.m. that he was sitting at Hospital Hill "trying to see any indication of a tornado, but nothing so far."

"There was a report of a potential [tornado] in Milford, heading toward Franklin, which would have it pass south of us," he said. "There is also hail mixed in with frequent lightning here at [Hospital Hill]."

The National Weather Service advised people in Norfolk County, including the South side of Medfield, to head to lower levels for safety during tornado warning.

The NWS offers the following advice in the event of a tornado:

• The safest place to be is an underground shelter, basement, or safe room.
• If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
• Mobile homes are not safe during tornadoes. Abandon mobile homes and go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately.
• If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building.
• If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter, immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.
• If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort: Stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car, and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

In Massachusetts, the counties being issued the Tornado Watch are:

• Norfolk (Medfield's county)
• Essex
• Hampshire
• Suffolk
• Franklin
• Middlesex
• Worcester
• Hampden