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Thunderstorms begin to ease in Mass., but more heavy rainfall expected overnight

By Nick Stoico Globe Correspondent,Updated July 17, 2021, 11:59 p.m.
A man takes cover under an umbrella as a heavy rain falls in Downtown Crossing on July 12.Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

A sunny day in Boston turned to rain and light thunderstorms in the evening, but the city avoided the brunt of storms that passed through the region and struck hardest in central Massachusetts flooding several streets in Worcester, according to the National Weather Service.

The storms had begun to calm by about 7 p.m. but heavy rainfall is expected to continue overnight with the possibility of flooding in parts of central and eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“The severe threat has diminished across Southern New England with the main threat this evening being heavy rain and localized flash flooding,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet. “Stay alert and remember to always turn around, don’t drown!”

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Five cars were stranded in floodwater near the intersection of Dewey and Parker streets in Worcester, and more vehicles were stuck in water around the intersection of McKeon Road and Milbury Street, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Rob Megnia, citing damage reports gathered by the agency. Down trees and wires on Havelock Road in Worcester were also reported.

Worcester, Oxford and Charlton were under a flash flood warning until about 8 p.m., according to the weather service. Holyoke, Wilbraham and Ludlow were also under a flash flood warning set to lift at 8:45 p.m.

In the town of Clinton, northeast of Worcester, there were reports of downed power lines and trees on Beacon Street and Route 110, Megnia said. South of Worcester, in the town of Auburn, down wires were reported on Rock Avenue, he said.

“Most reports have stayed confined to the west of [Interstate] 495,” he said.

Flash flood warnings were also in place in Rhode Island Saturday for Providence, Warwick and Cranston. In Providence, Eddy Street was flooded and deemed impassable between Nebraska Street and Pavillion Avenue around 6:30 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Fallon Avenue was also closed due to flooding around the same time.

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Forecasters warned drivers and pedestrians to avoid flooded areas and seek higher ground.

Much of the northeast was under a severe thunderstorm warning throughout Saturday until 11 p.m., from as far as northern Virginia up through New York and into western Massachusetts, including Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties. Forecasters had predicted the storms could bring hail up to the size of a quarter and wind gusts up to 70 mph.

The storms brought loud claps of thunder and fierce lightning through several communities and caused some damage. In Duxbury, firefighters responded to a home where lightning had struck the chimney causing part of it to crumble.



Nick Stoico can be reached at nick.stoico@globe.com. Follow him @NickStoico.

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