Flash flood warnings were issued early Thursday morning in Massachusetts’ Bristol County and Plymouth County, and in Rhode Island’s Providence County and Newport County. They will be in effect until 2:45 a.m. Earlier severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flood warnings were declared in parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. See active severe weather alerts in your area here and track the storm with live weather radar below.
Tuesday promised to be steamy and stormy in the region, as a storm threat loomed for the region.
The chance was spread fairly equally along the Massachusetts Turnpike and southward to the coast, though the entire region didn’t experience the effects equally. Some barely got rain, while others encountered flooding.
This wasn’t to the level of what we’ve seen play out previously in Texas nor the Carolinas this weekend from Chantal, but it could certainly have been threatening.
The environment ahead of a cold front is ripe for storms to train over the same areas. This phenomenon, “training,” is similar to how heavy rain played out in Texas Hill Country. Unlike storms that move through in a sweeping fashion, these backbuild on top of one another and seemingly stay static.
Another ingredient might have worked in favor of storms Tuesday was the atmospheric moisture. You’ve felt that if you’ve walked outside. The humid and moist sector of air overhead is roughly two times the norm. This is known as precipitable water, or PWATs.
It’s extremely difficult to nail down precisely where these storms will sit, but we know the potential was there and greatest across eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Higher resolution models have hinted at Providence, and along Route 44 into eastern Massachusetts for up to 4 inches of rain in a six-hour window. In spots, 2 inches of rain could fall in 45 minutes. This would overwhelm roadways with water, and clog drains.
The onset of showers looks to be around 3 p.m. and would be spotty in coverage. I would expect low rumbles of thunder then. Downpours will pick up along and south of the Mass. Pike around 5 p.m., backing into Rhode Island.
We shouldn’t let our guard down either for severe weather. This will be an area-wide threat, with gusty winds near 50-60 mph, until 10 p.m. too.
If you haven’t already done it, download the NBC10 Boston app for the latest weather alerts. Be sure to turn on the alerts too!
You may need them even after Tuesday. Rain isn’t done for the week, either! A stationary front will keep showers around, but much lighter and sporadic in nature, through Thursday.