RI Weather: Thunderstorms, Torrential Rain Today

Thursday - particularly in the late evening - is expected to be the wettest day of an off-and-on stretch of gray and rain this week. The entire state is under a hazardous weather outlook for a "very small risk of localized flash flooding," the National Weather Service said.

The temperatures could crawl into the 70s, but it'll be with scattered showers, localized torrential rainfall and a few thunderstorms, the NWS said Thursday morning. The worst of it is expected to come Thursday night into early Friday; forecasters are calling for 1-2 inches of rain by the end of it.

Some good news: It won't be a constant rain, so if you time it right you can get out for a walk. And this weekend represents a big turnaround.

Saturday will be dry but gusty in the mid-70s before we hit 80 degrees Sunday and through most of next week. The prize day is Sunday, with temperatures in the mid-80s and just a couple clouds.

Boston-area forecast via NWS Boston:

Today - Showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Areas of fog before 10am, then areas of fog after 1pm. High near 71. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight - Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Areas of fog between 3am and 4am. Low around 63. South wind around 6 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday - Showers, mainly before 4pm. Areas of fog before 11am. High near 70. North wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 81. West wind around 8 mph.

Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 61. West wind 5 to 8 mph.

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. West wind around 6 mph.

Monday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tuesday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.