Storms Drench Peabody This Afternoon

Peabody was briefly deluged Wednesday afternoon as a band of thunderstorms passed through the area.

was issued by the National Weather Service that morning, and by the afternoon, likely flash floods and a tornado were in the forecast as well.

The NWS said the thunderstorm at that time -- around 2 p.m. -- was capable of producing a tornado and appeared to be headed toward Lynn and Swampscott.

Within several minutes, however, the warning was downgraded and the NWS said that specific storm had passed by.

Shortly before the tornado threat, firefighters scrambled out to .

State police reported that the area of Route 1 and Route 114, however, were temporarily under two feet of water, thanks to flash flooding, and there were reports of low-lying areas in West Peabody getting pelted with heavy rain as well.

Building Commissioner Kevin Goggin was at the inspecting an ongoing construction project there and said the building was deluged for a while in water.

He said all along Birch Street, in fact, manhole covers had flipped over in the road due to the quick rise in water levels.

A severe thunderstorm watch is still in effect for much of Massachusetts until 9 p.m.