The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning Friday evening for New London County as potent storms, capable of dropping 2 inches of rain per hour, moved through the area.

Motorists were advised to be wary of and avoid areas where water had collected on roadways.

Police and fire officials were assessing roads in New London and addressing traffic accordingly. A stretch of road from the New London Fire Department headquarters on Bank Street to Howard Street flooded with about a foot of water, which is typical during a heavy downpour, according to Battalion Chief Roger Tompkins.

Water travels underground from the higher areas of town, such as Broad Street, and in this case "was actually shooting up from the manhole covers," he said.

No cars were stuck and traffic was being diverted by New London police.

The storms caused some damage across the region.

In Ledyard, which saw a high concentration of lightning strikes, firefighters responded to a report of a home being struck by lightning. Electronics in the home were damaged, Ledyard Center Fire Chief Jonathan Mann said, and firefighters suspected a strike could have hit the satellite dish.

Across the street of the Poquonnock Bridge Fire District headquarters on Long Hill Road in Groton, a transformer exploded in what firefighters thought may have been a lightning strike.

"It was a very bright flash," Capt. Randy Carroll said.

Groton Utilities workers were on the scene repairing the transformer, and power had been restored to the area after about two hours, he said.

The residents of one New London home reported water dripping in through their electrical meter.

No injuries were reported.

n.lynch@theday.com