Heavy rains snarl traffic, knock out power in parts of Northeast ahead of July 4th weekend

Rain snarls traffic in Northeast ahead of holiday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Torrential rains are soaking New England and causing traffic backups and power failures as the holiday weekend approaches.

Parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are under flash flood warnings. State police say the rain snarled traffic Thursday on parts of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

About 11,000 people in Rhode Island lacked power in the morning, but service was restored to many later in the day.

National Weather Service forecaster Charlie Foley says the region can expect roughly 2 more inches of rain through Friday morning.