RI Weather: Strong Winds, Hail Possible Late Afternoon

RHODE ISLAND — After an unseasonably chilly start to the day in southern New England, potentially severe weather is in the forecast this afternoon.

Damaging winds and hail are possible, and there's an small chance of a tornado.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to arrive after 5 p.m., ahead of more possible thunderstorms Friday evening. The rest of the day Thursday will be chillier than usual, with highs only reaching the mid-to-upper 60s.

Here's a look at the latest forecast from the National Weather Service:

Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with large hail and damaging winds. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10 p.m. Some of the storms could be severe. Patchy fog before 11pm, then patchy fog after 2am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday
Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Friday Night
A slight chance of showers between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9am. Patchy fog before 10 a.m. High near 81. South wind 6 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Saturday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Low around 66. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 11 to 13 mph.

Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 59. North wind 5 to 7 mph.

Monday
Sunny, with a high near 76. North wind around 6 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Light south wind.

Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 76. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. South wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 7 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.