RI Storm Timing: 24 Hours Of Wind, Torrential Rain, Temperature Swings

RHODE ISLAND — A serious winter storm is headed to Rhode Island Thursday afternoon, packing just about every form of weather except measurable snow, according to AccuWeather and the National Weather Service.

The storm will be nasty in every corner of the state, especially along the coast, with possible flooding in Newport, Portsmouth and Middletown. The storm will also bring unseasonably warm temperatures in the 50s to the state on Friday.

But the warm-up will be brief. Temperatures will drop rapidly by Friday night and could drop into the teens. There's also the possibility for snow on Friday night and Saturday morning, though accumulation is expected to be little to none.

Here's what to expect over the next 24 hours in Rhode Island with the storm, according to the National Weather Service:

Thursday afternoon - A chance of rain, mainly after 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 49. East wind 7 to 13 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday night - Rain. Temperature rising to around 51 by 5 a.m. Windy, with an east wind of 15 to 20 mph increasing to 23 to 28 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 49 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches are possible.

Friday - Rain, mainly before 3 p.m. Temperature rising to near 54 by 9 a.m., then falling to around 39 during the remainder of the day. Windy, with a southeast wind of 25 to 29 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Friday night - A chance of snow, mainly between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Wind chill values as low as -1. Windy, with a southwest wind of 23 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30 percent. Little or no snow accumulation is expected.

Christmas Eve Day - A slight chance of snow before 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 25. Breezy, with a west wind of 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Christmas Eve Night - Partly cloudy, with a low of around 15. West wind 11 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Christmas Day - Sunny, with a high near 28. West wind 14 to 17 mph.

Night on Christmas Day - Mostly clear, with a low around 17. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.