Tornado, 75 Mph Winds, Ping Pong Ball-Sized Hail Possible Sunday In RI

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island was forecast to be battered by storms Sunday, which were expected to bring heavy winds, and possibly hail and a tornado, to the state.

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm watch around 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. for Rhode Island, warning of frequent lightning, likely wind gusts up to 75 mph and isolated hail as large as ping pong balls.

There were severe thunderstorm warnings issued in the state throughout the day, including:

• Tiverton until 4:15 p.m.
• Providence and Warwick until 4:15 p.m.
• Providence, Warwick and Cranston until 3:30 p.m.

"Areal coverage of storms will increase this afternoon with damaging wind the primary threat, but large hail and an isolated tornado is also possible," the service said in a social media post.

The storms were expected to hit between 2-10 p.m., according to the service. The watch also affects Connecticut, and parts of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvannia, New Jersey and Delaware. Isolated flash flooding was projected to possibly occur more broadly between New England and the Southeast.