Central Massachusetts Experiencing Severe Flash Flooding

The central Massachusetts city of Leominster and other nearby communities are dealing with severe flash flooding from excessive rainfall.

A state of emergency has been declared in Leominster, a city of about 43,000 residents, due to what officials are calling life-threatening flooding. Cars and roads are under water and home basements and businesses are flooded, in some cases by as much as eight feet of water, according to Mayor Dean Mazzarella.

Mazzarella advised residents not to venture out as many roads are impassable. Schools have been closed.

Early this morning, due to concerns about a dam, residents in low-lying areas of the Fall Brook tributary and the North Nashua River were told to evacuate. City shelters have been set up at Drake Elementary and Skyview Middle schools.

The National Weather Service declared a flash flood warning on Monday evening, reporting that 3 to 6 inches of rain had fallen in just a few hours. The agency issued another flood warning this morning at around 6:30 am, as flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations continued or was imminent. Rainfall has reached an estimated 11 inches.

In addition to Leominster, other locations being warned about flooding include Fitchburg, Westford, Gardner, Holden, Clinton, Athol, Pepperell, Tyngsborough, Groton, Winchendon, Lunenburg, Townsend, Littleton, Lancaster, Templeton, Rutland, Sterling, Ayer and Westminster.

The National Weather Service warned that the Nashua River is expected to rise above flood stage this afternoon to a crest of 9.3 feet just after midnight tonight. It will then fall below flood stage late tomorrow evening. Lowland flooding is likely along the river from East Pepperell downstream through Hollis. Flooding will impact low lying businesses along Route 119 in Pepperell in the vicinity of its junction with Route 111.

The weather service also warned of dangerous rip currents along the coasts of southern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod, and Rhode Island through the upcoming weekend.

Topics Flood Massachusetts