New Flood Watch For MA After Devastation During Monday Storms

MASSACHUSETTS — The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for most of Massachusetts ahead of heavy rain expected Wednesday — an area that includes communities like North Attleborough and Leominster devastated by flooding on Monday.

The flood watch will be in effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday for an area stretching from I-91 east to every other part of the state except Cape Cod. The weather service said 1 to 2 inches of new rain could fall, and pockets of up to 4 inches are possible.

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of streets, urban areas, as well as low-lying, poor drainage and flood-prone locations," the weather service said in a tweet Wednesday afternoon.

Rain on Monday night dropped up to 9 inches in the Leominster area, destroying roads, homes, businesses and collapsing at least one small dam. A part of the city was under an evacuation order due to a second stressed dam.

North Attleborough was swamped by floods that damaged up to 200 homes, fire officials said Tuesday.

This week's rainstorms come ahead of Hurricane Lee, which is moving north in the Atlantic Ocean toward the Gulf of Maine. The storm could bring high winds and rain to Massachusetts on Saturday, although forecasters are not sure yet about exact impacts.

RELATED: Catastrophic MA Floods: Daylight Photos Reveal Crushing Deluge Damage