The National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes in Massachusetts and one in Rhode Island during Friday’s storms.
Three tornadoes hit Massachusetts and another touched down in Rhode Island Friday, the National Weather Service confirmed.
Rhode Island experienced an EF-2 that caused damage in Scituate, Johnston and North Providence, the NWS said. In Massachusetts, an EF-1 was confirmed in North Attleboro and Mansfield; another EF-1 touched down in Weymouth; there was an EF-0 in Stoughton.
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Strong thunderstorms swept across New England on Friday morning, knocking out power and prompting several severe weather warnings across the region.
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A radar-confirmed tornado was also reported in Johnston and Scituate, Rhode Island, and the agency said they would be headed to the state on Friday afternoon to survey that damage.
There have now been 12 confirmed tornadoes in New England this year, including six in Massachusetts, two in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, one in Connecticut and one in Maine. If Friday's tornado in Rhode Island is confirmed to have touched down it would bring the number to 13.
Widespread damage was reported across Rhode Island, including downed trees and power lines. Firefighters also responded to Interstate 295 in Johnston after reports of a car lifted 10 feet off the road by a tornado. The driver was shaken up but unharmed, officials said.
Downed trees, street flooding across region
Across New England, storms toppled trees, flooded roads, damages homes and cars and made for hazardous driving. There were also a few thousands power outages reported.
In Mansfield, Massachusetts, police said they received a number of calls related to the weather around 9:30 a.m., including flooding on the North Main Street underpass, a tree down on wires on Otis Street, a tree blocking the road at Franklin Street by East Street and another report of a tree on wires by Elm Terrace.
Flooding was reported in numerous areas, including Lawrence, where authorities urged residents not to drive through flooded streets. Grafton Street was one of the roads that flooded Friday — it had also been engulfed in flood waters during a major storm that hit last Tuesday.
In Walpole, water was covering a road near the commuter line station, leading a car to stall out and police to shut the street down while crews worked to get the drains clear.
Street flooding was reported in Attleboro, where videos on social media showed trucks and buses making their way through high water.
Skywarn radio was reporting areas of tree and wire damage in North Providence, Lincoln, Scituate and Johnston in Rhode Island, continuing into the Massachusetts communities of Attleborough, North Attleborough, Mansfield, Stoughton and Weymouth.
Video also showed considerable street flooding on Maple Street in Marlborough.
In Andover, police warned of flooding causing roads to become impassible; authorities specifically mentioned Lowell Street at the IRS, and most of North Main Street, especially at Washington Park and Interstate 495.
Power outages in New England
Power service was knocked out for thousands of people on Friday morning,
In Rhode Island, there were over 7,300 people without power as of around 10:30 a.m. That number was down to just 85 by 2 p.m.
At the same time in Massachusetts, over 5,400 people were without electricity. All but 2,000 had power restored by Friday afternoon.
MBTA service interrupted by weather
The severe weather even caused delays and interruptions for the MBTA's Commuter Rail.
Debris on train tracks in the Mansfield area caused issues for travelers along the Providence Line.
Meanwhile, a Haverhill-bound train from North Station was only going to Andover due to flooding.
