UPDATE: The flash flood warning has been extended to 10 p.m. Tuesday. The severe thunderstorm warning has been extended to 7 p.m.
If you were jolted by the sound of multiple cell phone alerts going off at once just after 1 p.m., pay heed.
The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for most of eastern and central Massachusetts.
“At 1:04 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rains across the warned area. These storms have produced 2 to 3 inches of rainfall per hour. Flash flooding is expected to begin shortly,” the service wrote in its statement. “Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches are possible in the warned area.”
As of 1:15 p.m., a band of strong thunderstorms have pushed through New Hampshire and much of Massachusetts. These are the storms the service is watching for potential flash flooding. You can follow the NWS radar here. The warning is in effect until 3 p.m.
By 1:33 p.m., the service also issued a severe thunderstorm warning for eastern Massachusetts, including southern Essex County.