Rhode Island Weather: Rain Expected Thursday, Wind Gusts Remain On Friday

Weather Forecast Discussion for Rhode Island on October 27, 2016

At the moment, we have a mix of sun and clouds across northern Rhode Island, as a high pressure ridge right over the Ocean State gives us dry weather. This ridge will hold for tonight, giving us partly cloudy skies with lows in the middle 30’s in the capital city. However, north and west of the capital city may see lows fall near or below freezing. We will see increasing clouds after sunrise, as we await a low pressure system over southern Iowa. We will see scattered showers by 2 p.m., with widespread showers by the start of the evening commute. High temperatures will reach the upper 40’s. By Thursday night, the center of the low will move right over Rhode Island. Some parts of the state may see widespread rain, heavy at times, along with some gusty winds. However, this weather may be confined to the south coast, Cape Cod coastline, and Nantucket. Otherwise, we will see widespread showers, with lows in the middle 40’s.

We will have some leftover showers on Friday morning, as the low moves away from the state. We may see up to an inch of rain in some spots before the storm ends. But, with the low still off the coast of Massachusetts, we will keep gusty northwest winds. Skies will slowly clear during the afternoon, with some partial sunshine before sunset. Winds will remain breezy during the morning, but slowly diminishing through the afternoon. However, we will still keep wind gusts near 35 mph. High temperatures are forecast to reach the lower to middle 50’s. High pressure moving off the coast of South Carolina will give us partly cloudy skies Friday night, with wind gusts still as high as 30 mph. Low temperatures will be near 40. We will return to partly sunny skies on Saturday, as a fast moving low pressure system passing into Quebec, Canada brings more moisture into the Northeast U.S. This low may even bring a few scattered showers late Saturday afternoon. Look for highs to reach the upper 50’s. Scattered showers will end by 1 a.m. Sunday morning, as the low speeds off into Nova Scotia. Low temperatures Saturday night will be in the upper 40’s.

The European and American models disagree on how to handle Sunday. High pressure from the Southern Plains and Southeast U.S. is forecast to keep us dry. But, the European model sees moisture along a frontal boundary which moves directly over Rhode Island. This may provide us with some isolated showers through the daytime and early evening hours. For now, I will call for limited sunshine with the chance for some afternoon showers. High temperatures will be forecast for the lower 60’s. We will have overcast skies until midnight, before skies begin to clear early Monday morning. Low temperatures will be in the middle 40’s.

By Halloween, high pressure ridging will once again move over New England. This will give us good weather for Monday and Tuesday. High temperatures Monday will be in the middle 50’s, with the peak trick-or-treating times being in the upper 40’s to lower 50’s. Partly cloudy skies is expected Monday night, with lows in the middle 40’s. We will keep a mix of sun and clouds into Wednesday. High temperatures will actually go above normal, as we see highs in the lower to middle 60’s. Lows Monday night will be in the lower 40’s, with lows in the upper 40’s Tuesday night.

Jim Laurie is a local meteorologist who earned a B.S. in Meteorology at Lyndon State College in Lyndonville, VT. Jim has fifteen years of professional experience, with eight years in the field of marine meteorology.