Thunderstorms lash state

(George Rizer/Globe Staff)

Drivers on Main Street (Route 28) at the Bridgewater-West Bridgewater line had to contend with street flooding caused by the storm.

By Jeannie M. Nuss, Globe Correspondent, and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Thunderstorms with strong winds, hail, and drenching rain rolled into Massachusetts this afternoon, flooding roads and knocking down tree limbs and utility wires. Lightning struck houses in several towns and set them afire.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of southeastern Massachusetts after reports of a funnel cloud sighting at about 4 p.m. in Barrington, R.I. The warning was cancelled about 45 minutes later after the storm weakened.

William Babcock, a weather service meteorologist, said a waterspout was sighted over northern Narragansett Bay, moving toward Barrington. "There were funnel clouds in the same area and moving northeastward toward Bristol County, Mass.," he said.

Weather spotters reported hail up to the size of golf balls and cars floating on flooded streets. Lightning started fires in half a dozen Massachusetts towns. The weather service fielded damage reports from southeastern Massachusetts to the South Shore and North Shore.

Logan International Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella said East Coast airports were experiencing lengthy delays due to the unsettled weather.

Lieutenant Eric Anderson, a State Police spokesman, said rush hour traffic had slowed and roads had flooded as the storm hit the area, but there weren't a significant number of crashes.

“Metro Boston in its entirety was hit pretty good," he said.

Amtrak service south of Boston and north of Philadelphia and between Philadephia and Harrisburg was disrupted when a power outage hit after the passing of a severe thunderstorm.

Residual delays were expected for the next several hours, the railroad said this evening in a statement.

The Boston area is expected to see scattered showers and thunderstorms all night long. A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect until 10 p.m. for Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Berkshire, and Hampden counties, said weather service meteorologist Alan Dunham.

A flood watch is also in effect till Thursday evening for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, and parts of Middlesex County, he said.The forecasters said that widespread totals of 2 to 5 inches of rain were expected, while 6 to 8 inches were possible in some areas.

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