Flash Flood, Worcester
- When
- October 21, 5:58 PM EST to 7:55 PM EST
- Where
- Worcester County, 1.23 mi NW of Fitchburg to 0.65 mi NE of Westwood Hills
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Property damage
- $75,000
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 42.590, -71.820
Three to five inches of rain fell within the matter of a few hours during the evening of October 21 which resulted in prolific urban flash flooding in Worcester and surrounding areas.
In Worcester, flash flooding made roads impassable and there were many reports of cars stuck in floodwaters and people needing rescue. Roads flooded included Cambridge, Chandler, Bancroft, Park, Harding, Hammond, Highland, Summer, Lincoln, Green, Grove, Bridge, Irving and Ellsworth Streets, as well as Goldthwaite Road, Pleasant Terrace, Major Taylor Boulevard, Shore Drive, and Park Avenue. One portion of Cambridge Street near Kansas Street was reported to be flooded with water 7 feet deep! MLK Boulevard flooded up to an underpass bridge in a low lying area. Several other streets were reported to have floodwaters over 4 feet deep, including Country Club Boulevard. Over 20 cars were reported stuck in floodwaters at the intersection of Highland Street and Park Avenue. Plantation Street from Oakhurst Street to I-290 was flooded with water up to 4 feet deep. Significant flooding was also reported on 122A as well as I-290, with floodwaters up to SUV tire height reported. Several vehicles were stuck in floodwaters on I-290.
In Fitchburg, flash flooding closed a section of the John Fitchburg Highway and a car was stuck in flood waters on Shelley Avenue. In Leominster, flash flooding closed the intersection of Washington Street and Grove Avenue as well as McKay Street entering the hospital. In Lancaster, Main Street was flooded and impassable while in Shrewsbury, Route 9 at Oak Street was flooded up to the tops of car tires.
No injuries were reported due to the flash flooding.
Due to the ongoing drought conditions, stream and river flows were well below average and the excessive amount of rainfall did not produce flooding.