Flash Flood Watch in Effect Through Thursday

Things might get wet and woolly in some parts of Rhode Island Thursday night as a storm system moving over the region is simultaneously breaking a heat wave and producing heavy rains.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for all of Rhode Island through midnight Thursday and is warning of street flooding and localized flash-flooding due to periods of heavy showers.

There will be torrential rainfall from embedded thunderstorms and some areas could see two- to three-inches of rainfall in less than an hour.

The rain is badly needed as Rhode Island has not seen measurable much rain over the past three weeks also marked by two heat waves and an increasing frequency of brush fires.

The air is thick with moisture, which can intensify rainfall as the storms move overhead. That’s partly what happened in southern Rhode Island earlier today when portions of South County and Newport County got more than an inch of rain in 30 minutes.

Rain should taper off gradually into Friday. Temperatures will be much cooler with highs in the low 70s. The weekend should be pleasant with a mix of sun and clouds and some showers possible with highs in the lower 80s.

Get the full forecast at the Patch Weather Page.