Powerful, fast-moving thunderstorms rumbled through Massachusetts this afternoon, dumping buckets of rain, hurling pea-sized hail, and causing flash flooding concerns. The storms were lessening shortly after 5 p.m. in much of the area, but the National Weather Service warned of heavy rain approaching Southeastern Massachusetts.
The forecasters said rain would fall at rates of up to 1 inch per hour and that would produce minor urban flooding across much of the area.
Downpours in the Boston area apparently slowed down motorists. Traffic was crawling on many major arteries shortly before 5:30 p.m., according to the Globe’s traffic information service.
To make matters worse, State Police reported that Soldiers Field Road was closed at Western Avenue in Brighton after an overheight truck hit the bridge. State Police also reported that the Massachusetts Avenue bridge inbound, from Cambridge to Boston, was closed due to a power outage affecting traffic lights.
Boston police reported that gridlock and major delays were being reported along Massachusetts Avenue, and Berkeley and Herald streets.
The bridge was reopened and traffic was returning to normal in and around the South End shortly after 5:30 p.m., Boston and State Police said.
With plenty of rain already dousing the state in recent days, the forecasters continued a flood warning for the Charles River at Dover, saying the river was in a minor flooding condition and it would take until Wednesday evening to fall below flood stage.
Monday’s round of rain helped propel Boston to its fifth wettest June ever. As of midnight, 8.84 inches have fallen so far this month, meteorologist Alan Dunham said. Though the first-place spot, with the record-setting 13.20 inches from June 1982, is out of striking distance, Dunham said it’s likely this June could make it into the top three, overtaking the record of 9.13 inches set in 1931.
After today, things should stay dry and clear through Friday, with temperatures in the low 70s Wednesday, mid-70s Thursday, and upper 70s Friday.
Lauren Dezenski can be reached at lauren.dezenski@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenDezenski.
