Alert archive / Massachusetts / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 1, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

June 23, 2026Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; Newport County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this flash flood warning at Jun 23, 2026, 5:07 AM EDT for Bristol County, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; Newport County, Rhode Island. It was in force for 100 min. 7 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 23, 2026, 5:07 AM EDT (09:07 UTC)
Expired
Jun 23, 2026, 6:47 AM EDT
In force
100 min
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Bristol County, MA, Plymouth County, MA, Newport County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 34 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:06 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 23, 5:25 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Nw Westport, MAMass State Police has closed Route 24 southbound to the I-195 westbound on ramp due to flooding up to 3 ft in depth. relayed by amateur radio.
Jun 23, 5:40 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 E Newport, RIRotary at the base of the Pell Bridge in Newport is flooded out.
Jun 23, 5:42 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 E Newport, RIAquidneck Ave at Wave Avenue is flooded with DPW requested to assist. relayed by amateur radio.
Jun 23, 5:44 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD3 Wsw Fall River, MASeveral vehicles submerged in floodwaters on Plymouth Ave in Fall River. relayed by amateur radio.
Jun 23, 5:50 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD2 Ssw Tiverton, RIThe 1800 block of Route 77 in Tiverton is completely flooded.
Jun 23, 5:55 AM EDTFLASH FLOODNew Bedford, MANash Rd at Church St is flooded out. relayed by amateur radio.
Jun 23, 6:33 AM EDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse New Bedford, MAAcushnet Ave between Maxfield St and the MBTA rail station closed due to flooding with cars submerged. relayed by amateur radio.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 7 storm reports to this flash flood warning; the first came 18 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 168 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-06-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 143 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Brookhaven, NY at 00:00Z on 2026-06-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 292 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
143 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-75 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
737 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
44 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
292 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
372 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

954 
WGUS51 KBOX 230907
FFWBOX
MAC005-023-RIC005-231215-
/O.NEW.KBOX.FF.W.0001.260623T0907Z-260623T1215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
507 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

The National Weather Service in Norton has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts...
  Southwestern Plymouth County in southeastern Massachusetts...
  Newport County in Rhode Island...

* Until 815 AM EDT.

* At 507 AM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain across the warned area. Up to 1 inch of rain has 
  fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 2 inches in 1 hour. 
  Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the 
  warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin 
  shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar.

  IMPACT...Excessive runoff will cause street flooding and rapid
           rises on streams and creeks in the warned area.
           Urbanized street flooding is likely in Fall River and
           New Bedford.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, Newport, Bristol, 
  Middleborough, Somerset, Portsmouth, Middletown, Fairhaven, 
  Swansea, Tiverton, Westport, Lakeville, Acushnet, Freetown, 
  Mattapoisett, Rochester and Little Compton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 4164 7127 4164 7126 4166 7125 4167 7124
      4169 7124 4175 7116 4178 7107 4180 7083
      4165 7085 4159 7092 4148 7111 4147 7133
      4166 7127

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...1-2 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Loconto
2 follow-up statements
043 
WGUS71 KBOX 230957
FFSBOX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
557 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

MAC005-023-RIC005-231215-
/O.CON.KBOX.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260623T1215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bristol MA-Plymouth MA-Newport RI-
557 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 AM EDT THIS 
MORNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BRISTOL, SOUTHWESTERN PLYMOUTH AND NEWPORT 
COUNTIES...

At 557 AM EDT, local law enforcement reported several cars submerged 
in floodwaters on Plymouth Avenue in Fall River. In addition, 
significant flooding was also reported on Aquidneck Avenue in 
Middletown. Re-developing thunderstorms were continuing to produce 
heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain 
have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 0.5 to 1.5 inches in 1 
hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in 
the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring, and new or 
worsening flooding is likely as torrential downpours from 
thunderstorms move across Newport County in Rhode Island and 
southern portions of Bristol and Plymouth Counties in Massachusetts.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.

IMPACT...Excessive runoff will cause street flooding and rapid
         rises on streams and creeks in the warned area.
         Urbanized street flooding is likely in Fall River and
         New Bedford.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  New Bedford, Fall River, Dartmouth, Newport, Bristol, 
  Middleborough, Somerset, Portsmouth, Middletown, Fairhaven, 
  Swansea, Tiverton, Westport, Lakeville, Acushnet, Freetown, 
  Mattapoisett, Rochester and Little Compton.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4164 7127 4164 7126 4166 7125 4167 7124
      4169 7124 4175 7116 4178 7107 4180 7083
      4165 7085 4159 7092 4148 7111 4147 7133
      4166 7127

FLASH FLOOD...OBSERVED
EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE...0.5-1.5 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

$$

Loconto
236 
WGUS71 KBOX 231047
FFSBOX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
647 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

MAC005-023-RIC005-231057-
/O.CAN.KBOX.FF.W.0001.000000T0000Z-260623T1215Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bristol MA-Plymouth MA-Newport RI-
647 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN BRISTOL, 
SOUTHWESTERN PLYMOUTH AND NEWPORT COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended, having moved eastward. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4164 7127 4164 7126 4166 7125 4167 7124
      4169 7124 4175 7116 4178 7107 4180 7083
      4165 7085 4159 7092 4148 7111 4147 7133
      4166 7127

$$

Loconto

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 23, 3:16 AM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Showers expected to continue today with some embedded thunder and heavier downpours possible.
  • Drier through midweek. Turning mostly cloudy, humid and unsettled by late this week into the weekend. Though it won't be raining all the time, chances for showers/storms will exist on most days Fri- Sat, but severe weather potential looks very limited.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 23, 3:16 AM EDT, 1 hour 51 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
316 AM EDT Tue Jun 23 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
No changes to the forecast at this time.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Showers expected to continue today with some embedded thunder
  and heavier downpours possible.

- Drier through midweek. Turning mostly cloudy, humid and
  unsettled by late this week into the weekend. Though it won't
  be raining all the time, chances for showers/storms will exist
  on most days Fri- Sat, but severe weather potential looks very
  limited.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Showers expected to continue today with some
embedded thunder and heavier downpours possible.

Showers will continue to impact southern New England today as
another wave tracks over the region. Latest mesoanalysis has an area
of increased moisture transport at 925 mb from the S/SW, so showers
moving into this area over RI and SE MA may intensify and produce
higher rainfall rates, especially as any pockets of MUCAPE are
encountered. Based on the latest guidance, a more south track for
the next wave is favored with heavier, more widespread rain
remaining mostly to the south of southern New England. The exception
would be along the south coast and into the Cape and Islands where
heavier showers remain possible. PWATs over this area heading into
the afternoon hours are also forecast around 2.0-2.10". High-res
guidance also has some MUCAPE over much of SE MA into the Cape and
Islands through the afternoon, which would help produce periods of
heavier downpours and some embedded thunder within any showers that
develop. The RAP also has a burst of some elevated MUCAPE values
over Cape Cod early this morning that could favor thunder there.
With the showers we've seen overnight producing occasional lightning
and heavier downpours in CT and now heading into RI, this is not out
of the question. With regards to totals, thinking has not changed
much as totals in the 1-2" range remain the main expectation with
this system. Flash flooding is not a widespread concern considering
the drought conditions we've been experiencing, but flashier areas
including urban and poor drainage areas may see some flooding under
any heavier rainfall rates. With persistent cloud cover today, highs
will likely not climb higher than the 70s.

Rain should clear out of the region heading into tonight as the wave
moves offshore, though showers may linger early tonight over the
Cape and Islands. Winds shift NW and drier air makes its way into
the region in the wake of the passing cold front, which will
also aid in clearing remaining cloud cover heading into
Wednesday. Lows tonight are expected to be in the upper 50s and
low 60s.

KEY MESSAGE 2...KEY MESSAGE 2...Drier through midweek. Turning mostly
cloudy, humid and unsettled by late this week into the weekend.
Though it won't be raining all the time, chances for showers/storms
will exist on most days Fri-Sat, but severe weather potential
looks very limited.

After the cold front pulls away later tonight, we get into a drier
weather pattern Wed onward thru the daytime hrs Thurs.

Our weather pattern then turns more unsettled for late in the week
into at least the early part of the weekend. Broadly-cyclonic, quasi-
zonal pattern with enhanced westerly 500 mb flow stretches from the
Gt Lakes region to the Northeast states in this period. Salient
large-scale features in this period by early Thurs night include one
mid-level shortwave trough over the Gt Lakes region, another weaker
500 mb disturbance near the central Plains, with an elongated, quasi-
stationary frontal boundary draping itself from the OH/mid-MS Valley
eastward to the mid-Atlantic/southern New England vicinity. Zonal
regimes like this one are typically prone to timing errors when it
comes to precip/thunder chances and are also sensitive to daily
convective details which are unknown at this time horizon.
Adding to that uncertainty is there are differences in the
strength of the initial/lead Gt Lakes shortwave, which influence
whether or not better rain chances move in by Thurs night. GFS
guidance is weaker/broader and thus more progressive with rain
chances into New England by Thursday night, while the
international guidance feature a stronger trough and is slower
to move PoP in until Fri.

I would rate confidence in the timing of rain/thunder chances later
this week into the weekend as lower than average, given the above
sources of uncertainty. Forecast carries a rather non-descript
Chance PoP for most of this timeframe; it won't be
raining/thundering the whole time, but ID'ing those periods is
subject to the timing details become more in-focus. That said, an
early estimate for rain/thunder chances is more centered into Fri
aftn/Fri evening with the lead shortwave, then increasing again into
at least the south coast to areas south of the Mass Pike Sat/Sat
night as the central Plains shortwave moves through or just south of
Southern New England. Although mid-level flow is seasonably strong,
much of this period is mostly cloudy and rather humid, but also one
with limited diurnal heating leading to weak instability. Indeed,
NSSL machine-learning severe weather progs offer tempered severe
weather probabilities on Fri. Wouldn't rule out a strong storm or
two on Fri, but early lean is that the prospects of storms becoming
severe seem limited.

High pressure and dry weather return for the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

06Z Update

Through 12z...Moderate Confidence.

Areas of IFR/LIFR have developed and should continue spreading
eastward heading into the morning hours. The risk for isolated
embedded thunder remains as showers moving across the region
continue to sporadically produce some flashes. Converted PROB30s
to TEMPOs to account for this risk. Visibilities towards the
Cape and Island terminals may periodically dip to 1/2SM or 1/4SM
in showers heading into the early morning. Winds will continue
to be mostly SE.

Tuesday...Moderate Confidence.

IFR/LIFR at least for the morning. Scattered showers through the
day with a few embedded downpours possible. Embedded storms
possible for SE MA terminals through mid-morning. Scattered showers
continue through much of the day. There is another risk for an
isolated storm by the afternoon into early evening; however,
confidence remains lower on this potential. Wind NW 5-10 kts,
shifting NE at BOS in the afternoon. Precipitation ends from
west to east gradually by around 18Z, with improving ceilings
after 20Z. Sub VFR conditions will linger the longest for Cape
and Island terminals.

Tuesday Night...Moderate Confidence

Confidence is lower regarding improvement to VFR from MVFR/IFR
conditions. NW winds should aid in clearing, VFR should be
common across the region by Wednesday morning. Light NW winds
around 5 kt.

KBOS Terminal...Moderate Confidence.

Rain. Moderate to heavy at times. LIFR ceilings are possible.
Potential for embedded thunder remains through 12Z. Scattered
showers continue Tuesday with NW winds shifting NE in the
afternoon at 8-12 kts.

KBDL Terminal...High confidence in TAF trends. Moderate
confidence in timing.

Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/...

Wednesday Night through Thursday: VFR.

Thursday Night: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Chance
SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Friday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Breezy. SHRA
likely, slight chance TSRA.

Friday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA.

Saturday: VFR. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Through Wednesday...High confidence.

Rain and a few embedded storms continue before finally moving
off to the east this evening. Moderate to heavy rainfall at
times expected, resulting in poor visibility less than 1 mile at
times. Seas 2-4 ft with SW winds at 10-15 kt shifting NW in the
wake of a passing cold front this evening into tonight. Winds
then shift more SW for Wednesday, remaining around 10 kt.

Outlook /Wednesday Night through Saturday/...

Wednesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas
approaching 5 ft.

Thursday through Thursday Night: Winds less than 25 kt.

Friday: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain showers,
slight chance of thunderstorms.

Friday Night through Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of
rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...None.
RI...None.
MARINE...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Loconto/Hrencecin
AVIATION...Loconto/Hrencecin
MARINE...Loconto/Hrencecin

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 23, 3:20 AM EDTAreal Flood WarningBOXBristol2 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Massachusetts, 2026Flash Flood Warnings in Rhode Island, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.