North Adams Hit With Hail, Heavy Rain
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. &mdash A second round of severe storms is set to hit the North Berkshires into Pittsfield through Friday evening.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., says it could bring more hail and rain, along with high winds.
The city's already been hit by a severe storm that dropped marble-sized hail across the city and flooded areas around River Street, Ashland and Church street as mud and debris blocked storm drains.
The hail started around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, pummeling trees and plantings and rattling windows. The disturbance set off a number of fire alarms, including some at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
The hail and heavy rain took down a large tree in front of the Ashland Park Apartments and flooded Ashland Street from Washington Avenue to NARA Sushi. Department of Public Works personnel worked in water up to their hips trying to clear the drains and cut up the tree for removal.
Elmwood Avenue and that part of Church Street were covered in mud; crews were scraping it up as the light dimmed on Friday evening. They used the debris as a quick fix for a large pothole that opened that water opened on the east side of Elmwood.
Dirt and leaf debris could be seen across the downtown and someone took a picture of what appeared to be a funnel cloud at Alcombright Field in West End.
A section of Eagle Street is blocked off with cones where water eroded the pavement from just above Liberty Street south on the west side.
Numerous residents posted images of piles of hail on their lawns and decks and flooding.
Much of the rain and damage was limited to the northeastern part of the county; Williamstown did not get much and skies were cloudy but no precipitation south to Lenox.
Temperatures that had been in the 80s the last couple days are expected to fall over the weekend.
Tags: severe weather,
