Weather
'Ring Of Fire' Thunderstorms To Break Up Intense Heat In RI
A large swath of thunderstorms surrounding a massive heat dome could bring a "ring of fire" to the mid-Atlantic region later this week.
A large swath of thunderstorms surrounding a massive heat dome could bring a "ring of fire" to Rhode Island Wednesday, breaking up the heatwave that has descended upon the region.
The pattern is referred to in the weather community as a "ring of fire" because thunderstorms form along the edges of the heat dome, AccuWeather explained.
The massive heat dome has engulfed much of the country from Texas to New England. Because the heat dome is warm through most layers of the atmosphere, clouds and storms have difficulty forming.
Find out what's happening in Across Rhode Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Across Rhode Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"However, on the edges of the heat, especially along the northern and western flanks thereof, the air is cooler well above the ground, which makes it easier for clouds to tower and produce thunderstorms," AccuWeather said. "Within this ring, there can be spotty, individual thunderstorms, large clusters of thunderstorms or a solid line of storms that can repeat or meander back and forth as hot and cool air change hands."
In the Rhode Island area, storms are expected Wednesday.
An extreme heat warning is in place through Wednesday at 8 p.m, when the high temperature is expected to reach 90. Wednesday night will see a temperature dip to the mid-60s, with a low temperature of 59 by Thursday.
It will be noticeably cooler on Friday, when a high temperature of 69 is predicted along with mostly cloudy skies.
Here is the local forecast:
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. Heat index values as high as 97. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: A chance of showers, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday: A chance of showers before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
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