LEOMINSTER — Heavy rain flooded roads in Leominster, Lunenburg, and other Massachusetts communities Monday morning, forcing street closures and disrupting traffic on Route 2.
At approximately 9:19 a.m. on Aug. 3, 2026, Leominster Emergency Communications 9-1-1 reported heavy flooding on Industrial Road, North Main and Nelson streets, Lancaster Street near Graham and Cedar streets, Central and Union streets, West Street and Hillery Road, Spruce and Whitney streets, and Merriam Avenue near Twin City Plaza and Lindell Avenue.
At 8:48 a.m., the Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced on X that Merriam Avenue was closed at the Route 2 interchange in Leominster and Fitchburg because of flooding. Route 2 was also temporarily reduced to one lane in each direction.
In #Leominster and #Fitchburg, Merriam Avenue is closed at the Route 2 interchange due to flooding. Route 2 has also been reduced to one lane in each direction. Closures are expected to remain in place for the next hour.
— Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) August 3, 2026
This morning, Lunenburg police temporarily closed Electric Avenue (Route 13) between West Street and Whalom Road because of flooding. At around 8:25 a.m., police announced on social media that the roadway had reopened to all traffic.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning at 6:49 a.m. for northern Worcester and northwestern Middlesex counties. About one minute later, NWS Boston announced on social media that the warning included Leominster, Fitchburg, and Gardner and would remain in effect until 10 a.m.
Flash Flood Warning including Leominster MA, Fitchburg MA and Gardner MA until 10:00 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/hD5l23EviX
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 3, 2026
The National Weather Service’s Boston office said thunderstorms and heavy rain created a risk of localized urban and poor-drainage flooding, particularly where repeated storms prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.
The National Weather Service said flash flood warnings are in effect for Fall River, Taunton, and Somerset until 3:00 p.m. Monday.
The National Weather Service said a cold front approaching from the west could bring isolated severe thunderstorms Monday afternoon. Atmospheric instability and wind shear could support organized storms capable of producing damaging winds, with the greatest risk across interior Massachusetts from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
