Severe Weather Causes Flooding, Damage Across Mass.

BOSTON (CBS/AP) — Storms moving through southern New England have downed trees and power lines and caused some street flooding from heavy rainfall rates.

Tornado warnings were issued Friday afternoon for storms in the Hartford area and nearby parts of western Massachusetts. A tornado watch was issued for most of the three-state area until 9 p.m., but was later discontinued for parts of Connecticut.

A flash flood warning was in effect for the same areas.

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The emergency room at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River was evacuated due to flooding and ambulances were redirected to other hospitals.

Deputy emergency management director Mike Roberts said a "good amount" of trees and power lines were down in eastern Glastonbury, Conn. He said he wasn't aware of any structural damage. Scott DeVico, state emergency services spokesman, said he expects the National Weather Service will assess whether a tornado touched down, but there were no confirmed reports.

In Foxboro, a lightning strike caused damage at a home on Mechanic Street.

About 17,000 power outages were reported in Connecticut and 15,000 were reported in Massachusetts.

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