RI Weather Forecast: Storms Expected Tuesday

Think of today as the calm before the storm in Rhode Island. Substantial rain and strong winds will precede much colder weather this week as we creep closer to Halloween.

The National Weather Service on Monday issued a hazardous weather outlook for all of Rhode Island. We should keep dry until Tuesday, when heavy rain and strong wind gusts between 35-45 miles per hour are expected. The gusts may whip around at 60 mph in the eastern part of the state, the NWS said. As always, downed tree limbs and power outages are in play.

The rain brings with it a flood risk, according to the NWS. It is expected to be coming down heavy Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. Recent drought-like conditions could lend a hand here.

“Across much of this region, it has been dry recently, which should mean that the ground can absorb most of the rainfall,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

A dense fog advisory Monday morning has expired. If you watched the Patriots game Sunday night, you saw what that fog could do.

Monday's warm weather is also set to expire. While it stays toasty through mid-week as the rain falls, the temperatures become much more seasonable by week's end, with nighttime temperatures possibly dipping into the low 40s. It should then rebound for Halloween week.