LAWRENCE, Mass. — Severe storms packing torrential rain turned roads across Massachusetts into rushing rivers, leaving motorists stranded in some communities on Tuesday morning.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings and watches as heavy showers and embedded thunderstorms drenched the region.
A flash flood warning is in effect for Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties until 2 p.m.
A flash flood watch is in effect for Central Middlesex, Eastern Essex, Northern Worcester, and Western Essex counties through Tuesday evening.
“The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2.5 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of up to 2 inches are possible in the warned area,” the NWS said.
Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Lawrence, Boston, Cambridge, Brockton, Quincy, Lynn, Newton, Somerville, Framingham, Waltham, Malden, Brookline, Medford, Weymouth, Revere, Peabody, Arlington, Everett, Salem, and Beverly, according to the NWS.
Lawrence has been soaked with an incredible 4.75" of rain in the past 6 hours. Additional 3+" rainfall reports are numerous across Middlesex & Essex Counties in the same window of time. https://t.co/pVGS3lnSDv
— Tucker Antico (@tuckerweather) August 8, 2023
Video captured by a Boston 25 photographer showed the driver of a Jeep stuck in the floodwaters on Parker Street as rain poured down.
The driver was eventually rescued by first responders in Lawrence and taken to safety.
Flooded roads were also reported in Needham. A Boston 25 viewer sent in a video showing a flooded neighborhood.
Heavy flooding on Route 9 at Route 27 was reported in Natick, where police reported “multiple stranded vehicles.”
“Avoid these areas, expect detours and delays. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas in your car,” Natick police said in a tweet.
Heavy flooding RT 9 at RT 27 and also at Speen. Multiple stranded vehicles. Avoid these areas, expect detours and delays. Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas in your car.
— Natick Police (@NATICKPOLICE) August 8, 2023
Video from Framingham showed backyards beginning to flood from the rains.
In Tewksbury, flash flooding turned streets and yards into lakes, and local children were spotted getting around in kayaks as water drenched the area.
It was a similar scene in Andover, where rushing water was seen flowing through a backyard fence and down the driveway into the street.
It was also much of the same story in Billerica, where the parking lot of an apartment complex was left underwater.
Flooding in #Billerica
— Peter Wilson (@PetesWire) August 8, 2023
Credit Alessia DaCruz
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Driving rain made driving treacherous for motorists during the morning commute on Interstate 95 in Lexington.
The rain in Lexington is no joke right now!! Downpours causing flooding on I-95 @boston25 pic.twitter.com/7xED6rkwMw
— Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) August 8, 2023
In a tweet, MassDOT Safety said, “We urge you to avoid driving on flooded streets if you must travel. It only takes six inches of fast-moving water to knock over and carry away an adult, and 12 inches to carry away a small car. Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
Flood watch is in effect in #MA until midnight. We urge you to avoid driving on flooded streets if you must travel.
— MassDOT Safety (@MassDOTSafety) August 8, 2023
It only takes 𝟔 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 of fast-moving water to knock over & carry away an adult, and 𝟏𝟐 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 to carry away a small car. Turn Around, Don’t Drown! https://t.co/yMuIvJRWdj
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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