Newton Could See Torrential Rain Tonight: Mayor Ruthanne Fuller

NEWTON, MA — Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is warning residents of heavy rain coming to the area early Thursday morning, which is expected to increase in intensity with the heaviest falling between midnight and 8 a.m., according to the city's forecasting service.

The most up-to-date intonation shows that the remnants of Hurricane Ida will drop a total of three to five inches of rain in Newton, with the possibility of up to seven inches in some areas, and winds of 15 to 25 miles per hour, with gusts of up to 35 miles per hour. This means the city could experience flooding, downed trees and limbs, and power outages.

"All of this is concerning," said Newton Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim McGonagle.

Due to the weather, the morning commute could be impacted. Fuller and other city employees will meet at 5 a.m. Thursday to decide whether City Hall, the Newton Free Library, the Senior Center and schools will delay opening to allow for cleanup. The forecast currently shows that the heaviest rain will fall at a rate of about .5 inches per hour, which would likely cause some flooding.

Newton Department of Public Works crews started preparing for this storm on Monday and used a survey map to clear catch basins in low-lying areas. They also made sure pump stations are prepped and staffed and that barricades, sandbags, and pumps are ready if needed.

The city's Emergency Operations Center will open at midnight and fire crews are ready to block flooded streets and help with emergencies if needed. Customer Service and police dispatchers are ready to answer calls from residents through the night, officers will be on patrol as always, the Forestry Department staff and contractors are ready to clear broken branches or downed trees first thing in the morning.

“While these are the City’s short term emergency steps, we are making the investments to make
Newton more resilient to our increasingly dramatic weather events," said Fuller in a statement. "Our own City of Newton Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Action Plan, our 20 year Stormwater Improvement plan, and our Climate Action Plan as well as the modeling work by Weston & Sampson identify are actions we are taking to prevent flooding, address extreme heat and build resiliency."

Anyone who needs assistance during the storm can call Customer Service at 617-796-1000 or use the 311 app on a smart phone or computer. In case of power loss, contact Eversource at 877-659-6326. Updates on potential delayed openings will be available here.