Weather

Lightning Strikes in Watertown During Brief but Powerful Storm

By |

Lightning strikes in Watertown on July 25, 2025 are circled in yellow. Two other red dots mark strikes nearby in Belmont and Newton.(Map from LightningMaps.org)

A thunderstorm rolled through Watertown Friday afternoon, and two lightning bolts struck around town. The severe thunderstorm storm hit the City around 2:30 p.m. and lightning bolts struck in two spots, according to the map on LightningMaps.org, at:

• The Common Street Cemetery (near Watertown High School). • Near Orchard Street in the vicinity of Victory Field

The storm left damage, including a downed tree on Grant Avenue, Channel 7 reported. Wicked weather in Watertown on Grant St creating quite the mess…leaving this Tesla buried under downed trees when today’s summer scorcher turned into wild winds and drenching downpours without much warning #7News pic.twitter.com/bjZNzihc9n— Steve Cooper (@scooperon7) July 25, 2025

There were also strikes near Watertown:

• In Belmont off of Lexington Street (north of Belmont Street)

• In Newton, south of the Charles River near California Street, west of Bridge Street.

Severe Weather

Potential for Severe Thunderstorms Wednesday Afternoon

By |

Powerful storms are forecast to hit New England Wednesday, and have the potential to impact the Watertown area. The National Weather Service issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Wednesday, with a chance of severe thunderstorms hitting the area between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The threat of bad weather has cancelled the Watertown Farmers Market on Aug. 21. https://www.watertownmanews.com/2019/08/21/weather-cancels-watertown-farmers-market/

The storms may bring strong wind gusts that could cause damage, torrential downpours and localized flash flooding, and even the possibility of large hailstones falling. WBZ Channel 4’s forecast calls for the storms to mainly be north and west of the Boston in the afternoon, but the storm will likely move into the Boston area in the late afternoon and early evening.

National Weather Service

Strong Thunderstorm Hits Watertown, Concert Moved Inside

By |

A thunderstorm rolled through Watertown on Wednesday, causing some damage. A powerful thunderstorm blew through Watertown Wednesday afternoon, damaging some trees and moving the Watertown Summer Concert inside. The National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The storm hit Watertown shortly after 3:30 p.m.

A tree branch on Westside’s Brandley Road reportedly fell on utility poll during the storm on Brantley Road. Firefighters found live electrical wires on the street, and called for an Eversource crew to come repair it.

Fire Department

Powerful Thunderstorm Floods School & Streets, Knocks Down Tree in Watertown

By |

A thunderstorm that hit Watertown Wednesday afternoon caused flooding and other damage. A strong thunderstorm caused chaos which rolled through Watertown late Wednesday afternoon, flooding part of a school, streets and knocking over a tree. The storm cell hit Watertown at about 5:30 p.m. and with several lightning bolts in the area and dumping heavy rain on town, causing flooding in some areas. Flooding was reported around Watertown, including causing water to come into the gymnasium at Cunniff Elementary School on the Westside of town. Street flooding was reported nearby on Warren at Chapman Street, where as much as a foot of water was reported by first responders on the scene, according to scanner reports.

Around Town

Storm Rolls Through Watertown After Spawning Tornado Saturday Morning

By |

A severe thunderstorm that produced a tornado in Central Massachusetts Saturday calmed down by the it hit Watertown, dropping only rain

The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed a tornado struck Webster, damaging some buildings in the downtown area of the town in southern Worcester County. The NWS had issued a Tornado Warning for parts of Worcester County and Southeast Middlesex County which expired at 10:45 a.m.

Watertown was under a flash flood warning from the NWS.

Thunderstorm

Strong Storm Forecast to Hit Watertown Sunday With Possible Lightning

By |

A strong line of storms is rolling through Massachusetts Sunday and could produce heavy showers and strong thunderstorms in the Watertown area. In Western Mass it has already knocked down trees. The National Weather Services forecast says the storms could hit the Boston area late morning or early afternoon. It could have damaging winds and localized street flooding.