Flash Flood Watch Issued for Evening Storms

A flash flood watch has been issued for Melrose through Thursday night for the possibility of flooding as a result of strong rain showers that could move through the area overnight.

The National Weather Service said the flood watch—which means conditions are favorable for flood conditions—started at 4 p.m. on Thursday and runs through Friday morning.

It covers Middlesex County, including Melrose, plus most other counties in central and eastern Massachusetts plus a portion of Rhode Island.

"Sudden heavy downpours will occur with any thunderstorms late (Thursday) afternoon and tonight," the weather service said in issuing its watch. "Rainfall of 2 to 4 inches are possible within a short period of time."

The heavy rain "may result in significant urban and poor drainage flooding," and small streams may also rise out of their banks, the weather service said.

National Grid also said in a press release this afternoon that the utility company is activating storm operations centers across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and is readying extra crews in case the storms cause significant outages. 

Here's a list of Melrose phone numbers to keep handy during inclement weather:

Important Numbers:

•  (normal working hours & weather emergencies): 781-665-0142 
• (Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.): 781-979-4170
• Police/ Fire Emergencies: 911
• Non-Emergency : 781-665-1212
• Non-Emergency : 781-665-1313
• National Grid power outages: (800) 465-1212
• National Grid gas emergencies: (800) 233-5325
• Comcast: (800) 266-2278
• Verizon: (800) 837-4966 (VERIZON)

List of tow companies:

• : 781-665-7828
• Andy's Service Center (Malden): (781) 324-7505
• Culleton Brothers (Malden): (781) 322-4665
• Kearney's Towing (Stoneham): (781) 438-8484
• Stoneham Towing Inc.: (781) 438-3500
• Phil Howe's Towing (Wakefield): (781) 245-2468
• Advanced Auto Transport (Wakefield): (781) 246-5831

List of cab companies:

• Taxi Time: (781) 662-0300 ‎
• Malden Taxi: (781) 322-5050 and (781) 324-5050
• Malden Cab Company: (781) 322-5050 
• Oak Grove Cab: (781) 665-5050 ‎
• Stoneham Taxi: (781) 279-2828
• Tan Taxi: (781) 395-6666