Parts of Massachusetts are under a severe thunderstorm warning on Wednesday night as clouds could bring isolated showers and heavy winds.
As a cold front passes over the region, rainfall rates between 1 and 3 inches per hour could fall, though rain should dwindle during the overnight hours, according to the National Weather Service.
“The more substantial risk from today’s storms will be areas of heavy rain and urban/poor drainage flooding,” forecasters wrote.
One severe thunderstorm warning was in effect until 5:30 p.m., covering west central Essex County and northeastern Middlesex County. Trees were reportedly down in Pepperell. Threats included penny-sized hail and winds reaching 60 mph.
Another severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect until 6 p.m., covering southern Worcester County and southeastern Hampden County. Forecasters warned that at 4:57 p.m., severe thunderstorms were reported near Southwick and near northwestern Harwinton to Woodbury Center, with winds moving at 30 mph.
“For your protection, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building,“ the warning read. ”Large hail and damaging winds and continuous cloud-to-ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature`s leading killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms, and may lead to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.”
While storms are expected to start any time between 2 and 10 p.m., storms should gradually weaken after sunset, forecasters said.
After 7 p.m., storms should have mostly moved toward the east, including in areas like Boston, forecasters said. Humid conditions should continue, leaving little room for relief going into Thursday morning.
The cold front should settle in southeastern Massachusetts, but cloudy conditions should persist as ongoing rain could result in possible urban and poor drainage flooding southeast of Interstate 90, forecasters said.
“Despite the signals for heavy rainfall, the flooding risk looks to be too isolated for any flood watches as of this forecast update,” forecasters wrote.
With highs expected to be in the 80s on Thursday, this trend should continue as mostly sunny skies return Friday, forecasters said. By this time, cooler temperatures in the high 70s along the coast and low 80s should be present in the interior, along with lowered humidity.
After another day of cooler temperatures on Saturday, similar to those on Friday, high temperatures could make a comeback Sunday, forecasters said. Elevated humidity levels could leave conditions feeling like the mid-90s.
Going into next week, a cool air mass could start off another round of rain between Tuesday and Thursday, forecasters said.
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