After powerful thunderstorms in Boston area, some areas see heavy flooding

Powerful thunderstorms that swept across Massachusetts on Saturday were over by 9:45 p.m., leaving heavy flooding in their wake and rainfall totals surpassing 2 inches in the hardest hit regions, according to the National Weather Service.

A southeastern-bound system affecting Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Middlesex, Bristol, and Plymouth counties led to 0.5 to 2 inches of rain, the service said around 7:15 p.m.

“Mostly we’re seeing flooding generally in the Greater Boston area — a lot from Wellesley and Natick,” said Lenore Correia, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “Just a lot of street flooding.”

In Wellesley, Route 128 had experienced “significant flooding,” according to the service. Three southbound lanes were closed, Correia said, because of an estimated 2 feet of water. And on Route 135 in Wellesley, a section was impassable, she said.

Meanwhile, Correia said a car was reported stuck on Route 9 in Natick.

In a series of alerts Saturday, the weather service had been urging drivers to find alternate routes for flooded roads and underpasses, particularly in areas with poor drainage.

Though storms have passed, showers might linger for several hours, the service tweeted.

Five municipalities in the state – Baldwinville, East Longmeadow, Wayland, Wellesley, and Framingham – posted rainfall totals exceeding 2 inches, Correia said.

Baldwinville tallied the highest rainfall, at 3.2 inches. Boston reported 1.31 inches of rain, Correia said.

A special weather statement was initially issued around 5:30 p.m., warning of thunderstorms — spanning from Boston to Worcester — that could produce up to an inch of rainfall in an hour.

Areas affected included Boston, Cambridge, Brockton, Quincy, Lynn, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, Waltham, Malden, Brookline, Medford, Weymouth, Revere, Arlington, Everett, Salem, Marlborough, Woburn, and Braintree, according to the statement.

Thunderstorms moving from Millbury to Braintree were also bringing heavy rainfall, the weather service said in a statement at 6:20 p.m. The system, traveling at 25 miles per hour, could produce “a quick half inch to inch” of rain, according to the service.

Providence, Brockton, Fall River, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, Plymouth, Taunton, East Providence, Woonsocket, Coventry, Cumberland, North Providence, Franklin, West Warwick, Johnston, North Attleborough, Stoughton, Bridgewater, and Marshfield were affected, the service said.

A flash flood warning for parts of Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties was lifted at 7:15 p.m., according to the service. Eastern Hampden County had been experiencing heavy rainfall an hour earlier, the service had said.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Worcester MA, Framingham MA, Needham MA until 5:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/HzZka9WL46

— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 6, 2019

Scattered to numerous showers & thunderstorms developing across western areas of CT & MA. Main threat at this time is heavy rain and frequent lightning.

Trend over the next hour or two is for further activity to either progress or erupt into central MA and CT. pic.twitter.com/EI9NNu3cEj

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 6, 2019

In northern New England, a severe thunderstorm watch for all of New Hampshire and Maine expired at 8 p.m. Wind gusts had been set to reach 70 miles per hour with frequent lightning and “very heavy downpours,” the weather service tweeted.

As the storm moved through Maine and New Hampshire, several towns and cities were placed under a severe thunderstorm warning.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Bangor ME, Brewer ME, Orono ME until 4:45 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/UasugZ0uLF

— NWS Severe Tstorm (@NWSSevereTstorm) July 6, 2019

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for all of New Hampshire and Maine until 8 pm EDT. Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, frequent lightning and very heavy downpours are the primary threats. pic.twitter.com/XJSkTJWWI3

— NWS Eastern Region (@NWSEastern) July 6, 2019

Some communities canceled weekend firework celebrations ahead of the storms Saturday night, including Orleans, Salisbury, and Franklin, according to police.

The 90-degree temperatures seen across Massachusetts were set to cool down as a cold front pushes through Saturday night, also pushing away the storms, said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

While a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH has been posted N, we are not expecting a widespread severe weather threat across S New England.

Scattered t'storms are forecast w/ the main threat being heavy downpours & localized flooding. Strongest of the storms could produce damaging winds. https://t.co/hw6hZPKqR7

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 6, 2019

Highs for Sunday are likely to be in the high 70s, possibly hitting 80 degrees with a few clouds in the morning, Dunham said.

“It’s going to be very delightful,” he said.

Monday through Wednesday is expected to be sunny, with temperatures increasing into the 80s as the week goes on and with less humidity, Dunham said.

“It won’t be feeling that muggy,” he said.

Thursday shows another chance for showers, Dunham said, which could last until Friday. The weather is expected to feel “warm and humid,” forecasters said.