MA Weather: Flood Watch, Severe Storms, Tornado Risk Tuesday

MASSACHUSETTS — Severe weather, including thunderstorms and heavy rain, is in the forecast for Massachusetts Tuesday. Most of the state is under either a flood watch or flood warning with as much as 2-1/2 inches of rain possible throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service.

A flood warning was issued Tuesday morning for Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex and Worcester counties. A flood watch is covering most of the rest of the region, including Plymouth County and the Boston area, and warns residents to be preparing for flood conditions.

"Periods of showers and thunderstorms with torrential rainfall will introduce a flood threat this morning into early afternoon. 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rainfall are forecast along the I-95 corridor from Providence to Boston with locally higher amounts of 3+ inches possible," the weather service said.

The flood warning expires at 3:15 p.m. while the flood watch expires at midnight.

The region already saw some wild weather Tuesday morning with a tornado warning issued for parts of Worcester County. A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued in New Bedford and Fall River through 10:15 a.m.

Flooding closed Route 20 in Worcester near the Route 122 overpass — an area that almost always floods during heavy rain.

Flood Watch in effect until midnight for parts of RI and MA. Heavy rainfall may cause localized urban/flash flooding. Additionally, there's a threat of isolated severe t-storms this morning with strong winds, along with a brief tornado or waterspout. #MAwx #RIwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/QEU3eGOy9W
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 8, 2023

The latest flood watch follows a summer of seemingly endless heavy rainstorms. Weather stations in Worcester, Providence and Boston all recorded their second-wettest July months on record, and Hartford broke its July record, according to the weather service.