Severe thunderstorms will bring heavy rain, damaging winds to western Mass.
Severe thunderstorms may bring damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain to parts of Massachusetts Monday. The National Weather Service warned of torrential rainfall, power outages, flooding, and property damage as a result of possibly severe weather Monday afternoon through Monday evening.
[Severe Wx Today] Damaging winds, large hail, psbl tornadoes; threats 2-8p mainly N/W MA & CT weaken S/E; heavy rain & freq lightning also pic.twitter.com/KPi8uF85TT
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 19, 2017
Showers and isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the Boston area, but NWS meteorologist Bill Simpson said the more severe weather is expected from Worcester through the western part of the state.
The weather service is cautioning that hail the size of a quarter, heavy rain, and winds gusts of 40 to 60 mph hour could occur with the strongest storms. There is even a low risk of a tornado.
A flash flood watch has been issued for central and western Massachusetts from noon through Monday night.
Over two inches of rain are forecast for the western part of the state, compared to under an inch in the greater Boston area.
With the torrential rain arriving in the afternoon, Simpson warned that drivers should be plan for extra time on their commute home with potential drops in visibility on the road and take it slow, especially if traveling west of I-91.
“It can certainly cause problems with hydroplaning,” he said of the heavy downpours.
Simpson said drivers may still see some showers on their commute Tuesday morning.
