A low pressure system sat just south of Long Island for two days, bringing heavy rain to much of Southern New England during that time. A persistent southerly low level jet brought very moist air into the area, which resulted in high rainfall rates. A coastal front along the I-95 corridor enhanced rainfall in that area. This event followed a heavy rainfall and record flooding event in mid-March as well as a second lesser rain event about a week prior. Rivers across much of Massachusetts and Rhode Island were still high from those events and warm temperatures in northern Vermont and New Hampshire resulted in a period of snowmelt, that resulted in rises on both the mainstem Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers. All of these factors led to a second record rainfall and flooding event.
Two day rainfall totals across Southern New England ranged from an inch to ten inches. Though concentrated in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, all of Southern New England was affected by the flooding. In Massachusetts, two day rainfall totals ranged from one and a half inches on Cape Cod to nearly eight inches in Bristol County.  Providence, Boston, and Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA set record monthly precipitation totals during the month of March. Providence also set the record for the wettest month ever in the period of record. Both the Pawtuxet River in Rhode Island and the Sudbury River in Massachusetts set floods of record.  Nearly 1000 Massachusetts National Guardsmen were activated to aid in sandbagging and evacuations.  President Obama issued federal disaster declarations for seven counties in Massachusetts following the mid-March flooding.  After this second round of flooding, residents of the seven counties (Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester) received an automatic extension for filing their state and federal taxes.

Flood in BRISTOL, MASSACHUSETTS
From 29-MAR-10 21:54:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: NORTH ATTLEBORO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 23.58M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Four to eight inches of rain fell across Bristol County resulting in several small streams rising above flood stage, including the Mill River in Taunton, the Canoe River at Norton, the Wading River at Norton, and the Segregansett River at Dighton, all of which set records.
Basements flooded in Taunton, North Attleboro, Attleboro, Norton, Mansfield, and Acushnet.  Numerous streets were closed due to flooding in Taunton, Fall River, Dartmouth, Norton, Dighton, Raynham, Somerset, North Attleboro, Attleboro, Freetown, Westport, Berkley, Mansfield, Rehoboth, and Swansea, including Route 6 in Westport, Interstate 195 at Exit 3 in Swansea, Route 24 in Dartmouth, and Route 140 in Freetown (exit 8).  The North Attleboro Town Hall sustained $350,000 worth of damage from flooding and Richards Memorial Library was closed for several weeks after the basement was flooded with water and sewage.  A pond at Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro overflowed, threatening zoo buildings.  It was able to be pumped out, keeping water out of most of the buildings.  One building was flooded with two feet of water, damaging boxes of gift shop items and supplies.
Route 44 on the Taunton/Raynham line was closed for the second time in a month due to flooding from the Taunton River.  An amphibious vehicle from the Boston Duck Tours was called into service to ferry residents from isolated neighborhoods to nearby supermarkets and pharmacies.
One bridge (Wheeler Street) was destroyed and three others damaged in Rehoboth when the Palmer River flooded.  Portions of two of the damaged bridges (Danforth and Elm Streets) were undermined and washed away and the Summer Street bridge sustained structural damage.  Two people were rescued when they fell into the Palmer River while trying to rescue their dog.  They were transported to Rhode Island Hospital.
Sixteen year round residents at the Canoe River Camp Ground in Mansfield were evacuated.  Three apartment buildings on Riverbank Road in Attleboro were completely surrounded by water overflowing from the Ten Mile River.  The Seven Mile River in South Attleboro overflowed its banks, flooding Pitas Avenue, isolating twenty homes.  Six structures in North Attleboro were evacuated because of flooding.
In hard-hit Fall River: Numerous roads were flooded, including Columbia Street and Mount Hope Avenue.  Storm water overwhelmed storm drains, blowing out of the manholes with such force that it ripped up pavement, gravel, and utilities.  Twenty nine homes lost power and gas service when the utilities were ripped up.  Bricks from sidewalks along Columbia Street floated down Canal and Columbia Streets, collecting in piles on Broadway and Anawan Street.  Doran Elementary School was flooded and the sewage treatment plant became overwhelmed with flood waters.  A vehicle became stuck in floodwaters, trapping the occupants.  Railroad tracks were under water at Interstate 195 and at Route 6.  The southbound lanes of Route 24 were closed from President Avenue to Route 195.  A 25 foot wide sinkhole developed on Jackson Street.  At least 300 people were evacuated from their homes.  The mayor declared a state of emergency.
In Freetown:  85 school-children were taken to a shelter after flooding made it impossible for buses to take them home.  The Assonet Bay Shores neighborhood (home to about 1000 people) was cutoff to regular traffic by floodwaters and the collapse of a Narrows Road/Causeway Road bridge.  Eleven students at the Crystal Springs School (a learning center for children and adults with learning disabilities) were stuck at the school for an evening after the bridge collapsed.  They were able to be transported back to the main part of the city when two mountain rescue vehicles owned by the state police were dispatched.  The vehicles remained in place for several days to transport residents between the neighborhood and the rest of the city.  A bridge 20 yards downstream from the Forge Pond Dam crumbled, leaving a four foot gap in Forge Road.  Fifteen households in Assonet Village were evacuated  as Forge Pond continued to rise.  Schools were closed early Tuesday, March 30 and for the day Wednesday, March 31 due to flooding.
There were three minor house fires in Mansfield that were the result of floodwaters reaching burners and electrical panels in basements.

Flood in PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS
From 29-MAR-10 23:46:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: STANLEY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 8.07M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three to eight inches of rain fell across Plymouth County resulting in several small streams rising above flood stage, including the Taunton River at Bridgewater which set a record, the Indian Head River at Hanover, and the Jones River at Kingston.
Several ponds in Lakeville rose out of their banks.  At least 35 families were evacuated because of the pond flooding.  Schools in Lakeville closed early Tuesday, March 30 and closed for the day Wednesday, March 31 because of the flooding.  Two buildings in the Ashley Place condominium complex in Middleborough were evacuated due to flooding.  A day care center on Route 28 was also evacuated.  A handful of people were evacuated from a multi-family dwelling on Ames Street in Brockton.
Many streets flooded (and most were eventually closed) in Wareham, Mattapoisett, Scituate, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Middleborough, Kingston, and Lakeville, including Route 105 in Middleborough where it passes under Interstate 495 at exit 4.  This intersection was eventually closed.  Portions of Route 44 in Middleborough were closed due to flooding.  Route 18 in Whitman was closed between Routes 27 and 14.  A few basements flooded in Marion and some in Norwell were flooded with several feet of water.  West Bridgewater High Schol was closed early Tuesday, March 30 due to flooding that threatened the electrical system at the school.
Several sewage treatment plants flooded resulting in raw sewage being discharged into rivers and other bodies of water.

Flood in ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 30-MAR-10 11:45:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: NEWBURY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 3.27M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three to seven inches of rain fell across Essex County resulting in several rivers going into minor flood, including the Spicket River at Methuen and the Merrimack River at Lawrence and at Haverhill.  In addition, several small streams rose above flood stage across Essex County, including the Parker River at Byfield and the Ipswich River at Ipswich and South Middleton.
Several streets were closed due to flooding in Peabody, Methuen, Andover, Danvers, Saugus, Gloucester, and Topsfield.  Many basements were also flooded.  The Mayor of Gloucester reported water pouring in the windows of the police station, as well as water coming into City Hall, some of the schools, and the Rose Baker Senior Center.  Minor flooding occurred at the Danvers Electric Division and the Peabody Institute Library.
Two people were injured when a 28 year old woman's car became stranded in a deep puddle on the shoulder of Interstate 95.  A Massachusetts state trooper rescued her from her car, cutting his arm on broken glass from the window.  Thirteen people in Peabody were hospitalized with carbon monoxide poisoning after an unvented, gasoline powered pump was set up in a basement, emitting noxious fumes to the rest of the building.

Flood in WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
From 29-MAR-10 17:34:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: SOUTHBRIDGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 4.05M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Three to seven inches of rain fell across portions of Worcester County, resulting in the Blackstone River at Northbridge rising to minor flood.  The Nashua River at Clinton also rose above flood stage.  Several roads and basements flooded in Leominster, Fitchburg, Lancaster, Milford, Mendon, Blackstone, Northbridge, and Shrewsbury.  Reduced speed limits were imposed on the rail line between Framingham and Worcester.
Clinton experienced substantial flooding two weeks prior to this event.  The Nashua River at Clinton crested only four tenths of a foot lower than that event.  However, because of the recent flooding, many preparations were made in advance of the rainfall.  Roughly 10,000 sandbags were made and placed around Clinton with the help of the Massachusetts National Guard.  This alleviated some of the damage that likely would have recurred with the three to six inches of rain that fell.

Flood in MIDDLESEX, MASSACHUSETTS
From 29-MAR-10 19:14:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: FARM HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 8.81M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Four to seven inches of rain fell across Middlesex County resulting in each of the seven gaged mainstem rivers in Middlesex County to rise above flood stage.  The Assabet River at Maynard and the Sudbury River at Saxonville both reached major flood with the Sudbury River setting a new flood of record.  The Nashua River at East Pepperell, the Shawsheen River at Wilmington, and the Merrimack River at Lowell reached moderate flood.
Several small streams rose above flood stage in Middlesex County, including the Aberjona River at Winchester and the Charles River at Waltham.
Basements flooded in Stoneham and Billerica.  Numerous streets were closed due to flooding in Littleton, Concord, Lexington, Holliston, Shirley, Medford, Natick, Tewksbury, Wilmington, Billerica, Arlington, Framingham, Wayland, Waltham and Stoneham, including Route 119 at the Littleton/Ayer town line.  The basement of the Bacon Free Library in Natick flooded, but did not sustain any damage to its collection.
Residents on Circle Drive in Framingham were evacuated after the Sudbury River sent at least a foot of water into most of the houses.  Wayland's Pelham Island neighborhood (about 63 homes) was cut off by a tributary to the Sudbury River.  The town ran a school bus and then a Boston Duck Tours amphibious vehicle as a shuttle between the neighborhood and a downtown parking lot where residents were asked to move their cars.  Several apartments on Linden Street (roughly 30 people) in Waltham were evacuated.
In Littleton and Ayer, the five foot diameter culvert that links Spectacle Pond with Gilson Brook collapsed resulting in a build up of water in the pond.  It subsequently backed up into a nearby neighborhood.  This build up also forced the town of Ayer to shut off its wells by the pond that supply drinking water to most of the town.  PanAm Railways halted all freight trains from traveling through the area after the tracks became flooded.

Flood in NORFOLK, MASSACHUSETTS
From 29-MAR-10 21:00:00 to 31-MAR-10 23:59:00 (EST-5)
Location: BELLINGHAM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 8.32M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Four to six inches of rain fell across Norfolk County, resulting in the Charles River at Dover and the Neponset River at Norwood rising to major flood.
Several small streams rose above flood stage across Norfolk County, including the Charles River at Medway which set a record, the Monatiquot River at East Braintree, and the Old Swamp River at South Weymouth.
Many basements were flooded in Norfolk and Westwood.  Numerous streets were closed due to flooding in Holbrook, Medfield, Bellingham, Franklin, Westwood, Medway, Norfolk, Walpole, Quincy, Weymouth, and Millis.
In Bellingham, one family was evacuated from a house on Pine Grove Avenue.  The Primavera School on Harpin Street also had some flooding.