Tropical downpour rates of up to 2 inches of rain per hour closed highway exits and triggered flash flood warnings on Monday morning ahead of a very warm, wet and oppressively humid day across Massachusetts.
A Flash Flood Warning was issued for the Springfield and Fitchburg areas on Monday morning, with 3 inches of rain falling in just over an hour in Springfield, and the Merriam Avenue exit closed on Route 2 in Fitchburg and Leominster because of highway flooding.
The heavy rain band sat over areas of western and central Massachusetts for hours in the early morning before moving eastward inside of Route 495 during the morning commute.
The National Weather Service forecast the downpours to continue off and on throughout the day on Monday, with any area caught under a heavy rain band subject to flash flooding.
Severe storms were also possible. The heaviest rain was expected to be north and west of Boston with lesser amounts on the South Shore and Cape Cod.
Rain was expected to taper off around sunset with clearing overnight into a sunny and much drier Tuesday.
See Latest Forecast (National Weather Service):
Monday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 77.
Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.
Monday Night
A chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 59. West wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 81. West wind around 7 mph.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Light southwest wind.
Wednesday
A slight chance of showers after 9 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night
A slight chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday
A chance of showers after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m, then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. West wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. West wind 3 to 8 mph.
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