Severe storms bring flooding and lightning across eastern U.S.

Severe weather continued impacting large portions of the Northeast and South this week, bringing flooding, lightning strikes, extreme heat and travel disruptions.

(CNN)- Severe weather continued impacting large portions of the Northeast and South this week, bringing flooding, lightning strikes, extreme heat and travel disruptions.

In Brookline, Massachusetts, a home was struck by lightning as strong storms moved through the Boston area.

“And then there was this loud, like ‘pow,’” resident Reece Whiton said. “It sounded almost like a gunshot.”

In New York City, heavy rainfall Wednesday triggered flash flooding across several neighborhoods.

Officials said some areas received nearly two inches of rain in less than an hour, leaving roads underwater and vehicles stranded.

Video from Queens showed multiple cars partially submerged in floodwaters while city buses pushed through knee-deep water covering streets.

“I’ve never seen flooding like this guys, never,” one resident said in a video recorded during the storm. “This is historic.”

Neighboring New Jersey dealt with a different weather threat earlier in the week as extreme heat forced some school districts to dismiss students early.

Farther south, fires in Pennsylvania disrupted transportation along the Northeast Corridor.

The Philadelphia Fire Department said at least two fires near train tracks affected Amtrak service between Philadelphia and New York on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Atlanta experienced major flooding after heavy rainfall overwhelmed portions of the interstate system.

Floodwaters stranded vehicles and forced emergency crews to clear clogged storm drains before highways were eventually reopened.

The storms are part of a broader stretch of dangerous weather impacting multiple regions of the country this week.