Incoming Storms Could Bring The Thunder: Patch PM

WILMINGTON, MA — It's Thursday, Sept. 22. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

• Ah, Massachusetts. This morning's rush hour commute was especially horrid for some two dozen vehicles on Route 1 in Lynnfield thanks to the emergence of a massive pothole.
• Suffolk Country District Attorney Rachael Rollins will stay DA for at least a little while longer after Republicans blocked her nomination hearing.
• It's Day 200 of the nurses strike outside St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.

Scroll down for more on those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Today's Top Story

Thunderstorms.

Today's spotty showers will become more consistent throughout the evening, giving way Friday to full-on thunderstorms, "some of which could be strong to severe," the National Weather Service said.

There is a hazardous weather outlook that warns of the damaging winds and the possibility of a brief tornado, but a flash flood watch hasn't been issued. Forecasters are still talking about the possibility of localized flooding due to the heaviest downpours since Tropical Storm Ida landed earlier this month.

Friday will remain warm and muggy until temperatures start to even out a bit at the beginning of next week.

Also Today

Ah, Massachusetts. The morning rush hour went a little bumpy in Lynnfield Thursday morning. Between 20-30 vehicles were damaged due to a massive pothole that emerged on Route 1 South just before the Lynnfield Tunnel, Massachusetts State Police said. Troopers shut down one lane of Route 1 south after multiple cars reported damage and flat tires during their commute. It took until about 1 p.m. to clear the scene.

Not so fast: Republicans postponed for a week a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on the nomination of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to become the next U.S. attorney for Massachusetts ... U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and member of the committee, had previously threatened to block Rollins's nomination over her progressive approach to prosecution, including her decisions to decline to prosecute some low-level, non-violent crimes. (State House News Service.)

Safety first: The Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School has shut down its varsity and junior varsity football programs for the next week due to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

Cheers: When the clock struck 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday, we entered Octoberfest season (also known as the autumnal equinox). We've put together some of the best places to celebrate west of I-495.

They Said It

"A flexible Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund will allow us to go bigger and better—creating opportunities for those who need it most as we continue to rebuild our economy so it works for everyone."

• Congressman Jake Auchincloss in a letter sent sent to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that preceded the Treasury Department announcing it will provide maximum flexibility to states so that they may direct funds allocated in the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund toward a wider variety of projects.

By The Numbers

200 — That's how many days the Worcester nurses have been on strike outside St. Vincent Hospital.