Flood waters damage hundreds of cars in northern New England

Heavy rain has been moving through northern New England, with up over 4 inches recorded in a few areas.

Students and staff at the University of Southern Maine received a rain day Wednesday due to flooding.

Spokesman Pat Moody estimates that about 250 cars and trucks were flooded in Portland, Maine, where the rainfall dislodged manhole covers and waist-high floodwaters caused cars to stall out.

With heavy rain comes flood watches, and such alerts are in effect for the entire state, according to the National Weather Service.

“People were surprised”, Jane Martin said.

“We have a slogan, ‘Turn around, don’t drown, ‘” she said. Meteorologist Tom Hawley said there were reports of 6.8 inches of rain near Windham, 6.6 inches in Gorham and 6.3 inches in Lewiston. Among those stranded were shoppers at Whole Foods in Portland, when the parking lot and surrounding streets filled with water. New Hampshire saw more than 5 inches, as well.