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The latest in a series of powerful thunderstorms swept through the area Wednesday, with Norton hardest hit.

The weather was stormiest shortly before 5 to about 6 p.m., bringing hail and strong wind gusts. Large hail also was reported in Mansfield and Wrentham after 4 p.m.

In Norton, a large pine tree toppled over a pickup truck and a house under renovation at 122 North Worcester St.

"There was not a lot of damage to the house. It didn't seem to go through the house," Fire Capt. Al Briand said.

"The vehicle had all branches on it." Trees were reported to have fallen on cars in two driveways on Oak Street, Police Lt. Todd Jackson said.

Inch-size hail was reported in Chartley.

"We had quite a bit of hail. It actually was accumulating on the ground on the west side of town," Briand said, adding that part of town from the center to Attleboro was particularly hard hit.

"There were quite a few tree branches down, a lot of trees toppled, but minimal damage as far as property damage," he said.

Flooding was reported in many locations, including Route 123.

"Water was pretty deep," Briand said. "We didn't know if it was leaves or debris in drains or the rain overwhelmed them. It rained pretty hard."

Norton also reported trees down on Walker Street and Barrows Street, some falling on power lines, but there were no outages, Jackson said.

"Streets were littered with several branches and leaves," Jackson said, noting highway crews assisted with the trees and large limbs.

Railroad signals were disrupted at the intersection of John Scott Boulevard and South Worcester Street, causing lengthy traffic delays, Jackson said.

Most other Attleboro area communities reported brief heavy rain, but little else. In Milford, a person received minor injuries when they were reported struck by lightning.

Parts of Massachusetts, especially Hopkinton, and areas in Rhode Island were especially hard hit.

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service office in Taunton conducted a storm survey in Hopkinton, and concluded wind damage from a severe thunderstorm was due to a microburst and not from a tornado, as area residents believed.

A microburst is a column of sinking air producing damaging winds when it hits the ground and spreads out in a linear direction.

Today is forecast to be a mix of sun and clouds, with a high of 70 degrees. Friday should be mostly sunny, with slightly warmer temps.

STEPHEN PETERSON can be reached at 508-236-0377 or at speterson@thesunchronicle.com.