A line of storms hurling hail, lobbing lightning, and whipping up winds was moved into Boston Wednesday evening from Western Massachusetts, forecasters said.
Heavy rain and thunder forced a two-hour delay of the Red Sox game versus the Colorado Rockies at scheduled to start at 7:10 pm. at Fenway Park.
The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning Wednesday evening for Boston, Cambridge and Quincy. A special marine warning was also issued for Cape Cod Bay, Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound, the service said.
Earlier, the service issued a warning for areas in Western Massachusetts, including Springfield, Chicopee, Westfield, Holyoke, Amherst, and Northampton, saying the storm could bring 60-mile-per-hour wind gusts and quarter-size hail.
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It advised people to move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.
The forecasters warned drivers of low visibility and minor street flooding.
240 PM: Line of storms w/strong winds, downpours, & small hail will reach the I-91 corridor by 4 pm then I-84 into Worcester by 5 pm.
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 14, 2023
Drivers: Expect low visibility and minor street flooding.
Some of these storms could become capable of producing wind damage.#ctwx #mawx #riwx pic.twitter.com/ERR7A1qs3c
Forecasters said the storms would likely hit hardest in Western and Central Massachusetts.
Rain and thunder were most likely between about 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. in Boston, according to the weather service.
Alan Dunham, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the storms should weaken as they approach the coast.
Latest on the severe weather threat in SNE. https://t.co/FnSb637IX0
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 14, 2023
The thunderstorms were developing across the Hudson Valley early Wednesday afternoon and were expected to make their way through southern New England in the afternoon and evening, forecasters said.
“Scattered showers and thunderstorms moving through southern New England this afternoon and evening. A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible with the main threats of hail and damaging wind gusts,” forecasters said.
Low clouds are moving offshore while we're starting to see showers/storms develop in the lower Hudson Valley. These will make their way thru SNE this afternoon/evening.
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 14, 2023
Some storms may produce wind damage & small hail, especially NW of Providence & Boston.#ctwx #mawx #riwx pic.twitter.com/M4f0UDbbOR
Forecasters urged people with outdoor plans to keep an eye on the weather.
Here's a look at how the radar should look later today. Best potential for a few severe storms is in western/central MA & CT. Storms should weaken as they approach RI/eastern MA this evening.
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 14, 2023
If you have outdoor plans, stay weather aware! #ctwx #mawx #riwx pic.twitter.com/gFXADoEuef
Correspondent Adam Sennott contributed to this report.
Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22. Martin Finucane can be reached at martin.finucane@globe.com.