Thunderstorms, flash floods cross region
Thunderstorms swept across the state yesterday, causing heavy rain and flash floods in some areas.
The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Suffolk and parts of Norfolk and Middlesex counties until 7:15 p.m.
The Worcester Fire Department tweeted that it was responding to over 100 stormrelated calls and advised residents to avoid flooded streets, bubbling and displaced manhole covers.
“Please use extreme caution,” the fire department advised.
The NWS noted that most flood deaths occur in vehicles but also urged people near small streams to get to higher ground immediately.
“So far, we’ve seen flash flooding in Belchertown and Worcester,” NWS meteorologist Alan Dunham said at 5:30 p.m.
In addition to localized flash floods, one to two inches of rain were possible in the Greater Boston area, the weather service said.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Wellesley, with torrential rainfall and winds in excess of 40 mph.
A Flash Flood Watch forecasting possible flash flooding remained in effect until 10 p.m. in several counties, including Suffolk, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester, with as much as 2 inches of rain in one hour forecast in some areas.
But the rain was expected to diminish in intensity by last night.
“Tomorrow is going to be a great day, with highs in the mid80s,” Dunham said.
The rest of the week should see highs in the low to mid80s, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms returning on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.