Mar 8, 2008 6:33 pm US/Eastern
Heavy Downpours Threaten To Bring Flooding To N.E.
Flood Warning Issued For Much Of Massachusetts
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Steady rain this weekend has yet to cause any major flooding, but state emergency management officials are warily looking out for problems. Several inches of rain are expected to fall by the end of the storm.
The National Weather Service has issued a
Flood Warning from Saturday afternoon until 7 p.m. for most of Massachusetts, including Worcester, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, also including Boston.
Most of northern New England is under a
Winter Storm Watch.
A flood warning means that flooding is imminent or has been reported. The Swansea Mall parking lot was reported to have flooded Saturday evening, while a trailer park in Wareham was temporarily evacuated after water levels in the park rose to two feet.
Moderate to heavy rain was reported in Western Massachusetts Saturday afternoon. Additional bands of rain were forming to the south, which is expected to bring flooding to urban areas.
Wind gusts were expected to shift to 25 to 55 mph for much of Massachusetts.
Downpours increased Saturday afternoon in the Boston area just before 1 p.m. and continued for several hours into the evening. Stream rises will be slow and flash flooding is not expected, the National Weather Service said.
A high wind warning was issued for southern Bristol, Plymouth and Barnstable where strong to damaging winds were expected Saturday night. The warning remains in effect until 8 a.m. Sunday.
Saturday's downpours were the second of two waves.
The first began Friday between 7 p.m. and midnight, and lighter showers continued overnight and into Saturday, bringing about one inch of rain.
Wave two began around noon on Saturday bringing with it very heavy, flooding rains and possibly some thunderstorms. WBZ meteorologist Barry Burbank says the heaviest rain is expected to fall from mid-day through the evening.
One to three inches is expected during the second wave. By 6 p.m. Saturday, Colrain, Mass., had 5.57" of rain while Braintree had just over 2". Wareham had 2.35" and Berkley had 2.46".
Peter Judge of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency said the state was fortunate that the first of two storms this weekend dumped about an inch of rain, less than expected.
The rain could trigger urban, small stream and river flooding Saturday afternoon, especially in areas of poor drainage, including streets.
Judge said rivers and streams were at their crests, but not overflowing.
There are also concerns about the Merrimack and Connecticut Rivers possibly exceeding flood stage. A flood warning was also issued Saturday at 1 p.m. for Hartford County in Northern Connecticut.
The City of Boston advised residents to keep catch basins in front of their property clear and to be aware of rising waters. If people see clogged catch basins or rising waters in areas, they are urged to call 617-635-4500.
MEMA's emergency operations center was activated around noon Saturday, so experts and manpower were ready to head to trouble spots.
Judge said three inches of rain isn't normally a problem. But the state is saturated from an extra wet February, and snow melt is also an issue.
Communities in northern New England will see a mix of rain, snow and ice.
Sunday will be clear and cold with temperatures in the mid 30's.
Stay with
wbztv.com and WBZ-TV for the latest forecasts.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
