A severe thunderstorm swept through the Attleboro area late Thursday afternoon, causing power outages in several hundred homes and businesses. Lightning strikes were also reported in some cases.
The National Weather Service in Norton issued a severe weather warning for the region, which expired early Thursday evening.
In Rehoboth, 196 customers were without power, and in Wrentham 135, National Grid said.
In total, 6,793 of Massachusetts’ customers were without power.
Eversource, which serves Norfolk, reported that no one was without power in that city, but 2,398 people were without power in eastern Massachusetts.
A lightning strike was reported involving a 30-year-old man on Meadowbrook Drive in Wrentham, but further details were not available.
Seekonk authorities reported a tree falling on an occupied car on Fall River Avenue. It is unclear if there were any injuries.
The Attleboro Water Department recorded a strong wind gust of 27 miles per hour just before 5 p.m.
The Taunton and Fall River areas were affected by the most severe weather conditions.
There were reports of flash flooding in southeastern Massachusetts and heavy hail in some locations in Rhode Island.
The storm moved out of the area before the New England Patriots’ preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night.
The highest temperature of the day was 30 degrees Celsius shortly before 1 p.m., the perceived temperature was 32 degrees Celsius, which corresponds to the humidity, the city water management reported. The lowest temperature was 15 degrees Celsius shortly before 6 a.m.
Sunny weather with maximum temperatures around 27 degrees is forecast for Friday. Saturday and Sunday should also remain dry, meteorologists said.
Hurricane Ernesto remains off the east coast and poses no threat to the mainland.
