Thunderstorms expected over central New York this afternoon are now expected to impact Northern Berkshire and Southern Vermont.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has issued an alert for most of Western New England for the risk of severe thunderstorms starting later Monday afternoon and into the evening.
The NWS' Storm Prediction Center says the potential for enhanced risk has increased for eastern New York and Southern Vermont and that there is "slight risk" for the Berkshires. Enhanced risk means "numerous" severe storms possible and slight means scattered but still severe storms.
Thunderstorms will be developing Monday afternoon with discrete cells or clusters of thunderstorms before transitioning to a line of thunderstorms. Hail, strong winds, a tornado or two and dangerous cloud to ground lightning will all be possible Monday afternoon and evening. Heavy rainfall will also accompany these thunderstorms that could lead to flooding.
Remember, when thunder roars head indoors! That's a reminder that this is National Lightning Week, an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of lightning.
Between 20 and 30 people were fatally struck by lightning in Massachusetts between 2010 and 2019; about 43 people report being struck by lightning each year nationally and an average of 27 die annually. The highest number in the last decade was 40 fatalities in 2016.
The passage of the violent storms should usher in cooler weather. Temperatures are expected into the 90s on Monday but are expected to drop back into the 70s or low 80s this week until creeping back up by the coming weekend.
Storm Prediction Center upgrading most of our area to an "enhanced" risk of severe weather this afternoon. A "Severe Weather Watch" (most likely "Severe Thunderstorm") is likely to be issued within the next few hours. #518wx#nywx#mawx#vtwxpic.twitter.com/MmjT7mWgI5
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Court Briefs: Contractor Guilty of Tax Fraud, Windsor Man Sentenced for Threats
Windsor Man Sentenced in Threat Case
A Windsor man was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Springfield for making online threats and extortionate demands.
Michael Andrew Rodgers, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2025, Rodgers pleaded guilty to one count of threatening interstate communications and one count of extortionate interstate communications. Rodgers was arrested and charged in September 2024.
On April 5, 2023, Rodgers posted a threat on the Google review page of a Springfield medical practice that stated: "They gonna get what's coming soon. […] Will be there in the morning to get them myself one way or another. Locked and loaded." Beneath this text, Rodgers included an image of a hand holding a gun.
On April 6, 2024, Rodgers submitted a threat through a fraud reporting website for the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General with the intent to extort Social Security disability benefits.
Specifically, Rodgers stated: "I m gonna start taking what I need. By any means nessacary. […] GIVE ME MY MONEY OR IM GONNA START DROPPING PEOPLE. YOULL NEVER FIND MY WEAPONS SO STOP LOOKING AND GIVE ME MY CHECK. […] NEXT TIME I SLICE SOMETHING OPEN. IT WONT BE ME. ITLL BE ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN ILL MERC A WHOLE SCHOOL AND NOT GIVE A F***. […] SO YOULL BE MY FIRST TARGET IF YOU KEEP REFUSING TO HELP ME."
Windsor, State and Springfield Police assisted federal authorities in the investigation.