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Wednesday’s storm brings up to 4 inches of rain, power outages, travel delays
After heavy rainfall and gusty winds, I-93 flooded, MBTA riders experienced delays, and thousands were without power.
Heavy rain and strong winds beat down on Boston and around New England Wednesday, causing disruptive flooding and widespread power outages.
Earlier Wednesday, the National Weather Service said the all-day storm would bring “damaging wind gusts, period of heavy rain long with the potential for some flooding and perhaps a few embedded thunderstorms ahead of the approaching cold front.”
Thunderstorms began in the area after 6 p.m., meteorologists said, and by 9 p.m., rainfall totals across New England reached more than 4 inches in some areas.
According to The Boston Globe’s meteorologist Ken Mahan, Coventry, Rhode Island saw the heaviest rain, while Boston saw more than 2 inches of rain. Lexington recorded nearly three inches.
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The high wind warning was in effect in the area until 1 a.m. Thursday, NWS said, due to gusts reaching nearly 55 mph. Heavy rainfall caused flooding on I-93 tunnel and delayed MBTA service.
The rain and strongest winds, which could gust between 50 and 60 mph, are expected to diminish after midnight, according to the National Weather Service.
Massachusetts is seeing a range of impacts from the storm, including power outages and travel delays.
Power outages
The Massachusetts Emergency Management is estimating that more than 5,400 customers are without power in the state as of 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Eversource has said it has crews working to clear and repair damage caused by the rain and gusty winds and is urging the public to report downed power lines to 911.
Travel delays
The storm’s impacts are being felt on the Commuter Rail, which has been warning through the day to allow for extra travel time.
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“Passengers may experience delays as trains might have to operate at reduced speeds in certain locations due to heavy rain,” the transportation agency said.
Multiple lines were operating behind schedule for the evening commute due to a downed wire in Back Bay and a disabled Amtrak train. The Commuter Rail said that all trains are operating on one track at Back Bay as a result.
As of 11 p.m., trains on the Providence Line and Needham Line, and Fairmount Line were each operating between five and 20 minutes behind schedule due to “an earlier disruption”, the MBTA shared on social media.
Needham Line Train 632 (10:15 pm from Needham Heights) has departed Needham Heights and is operating 10-20 minutes behind schedule due to residual delays from an earlier disruption.
— MBTA Commuter Rail Alerts (@MBTA_CR_Alerts) December 12, 2024
Providence Line Train 838 (10:15 pm from Providence) is operating 5-15 minutes behind schedule between Pawtucket/Central Falls and South Station.
— MBTA Commuter Rail Alerts (@MBTA_CR_Alerts) December 12, 2024
A downed tree in the area of Four Corners in Dorchester also disrupted travel. By 11 p.m., a train from South Station was still at least 20 minutes behind schedule.
Fairmount Line Train 965 (10:17 pm from South Station) is operating 20-30 minutes behind schedule between Four Corners/Geneva and Readville.
— MBTA Commuter Rail Alerts (@MBTA_CR_Alerts) December 12, 2024
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