Photos: Fred Floods Worcester, Shutting Down Streets, Buildings

WORCESTER, MA — Fred was no Bob, but Thursday's storm was one the region may not soon forget.

An estimated 3 inches of rain fell in Worcester between about 6 a.m. and noon Thursday. The storm also brought strong winds and a tornado warning — a brief twister may have touched down near Webster just before 11 a.m., according to forecasters.

But the rain was certainly the most notable feature of the storm, which hit on the 30th anniversary of Hurricane Bob — the last hurricane to have hit Massachusetts.

Flood-prone areas in Worcester like Quinsigamond Avenue, Southbridge Street and Cambridge Street all did in fact flood, creating traffic problems across central Worcester.

But the worst flooding may have been along Route 20 where it passes under Grafton Street. Multiple cars were stuck in chest-deep water, and the artery looked more like a pond than a major roadway.

In the downtown area, the Worcester District Court building was closed due to flooding. Floodwaters also shuttered the Crompton Park Pool, with officials saying the facility would be "closed until further notice."

And there may still be more rain on the way. Forecasters are watching Tropical Storm Henri as it makes its way up the Atlantic coast. The storm could become a category 1 hurricane on Friday, and may hit Cape Cod on Sunday with wind, rain and other impacts across the state.