Severe Weather Could Hit RI: High Wind, Hail, Thunderstorms Possible

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island could see a burst of severe weather on Wednesday, possibly disrupting graduation celebrations and other activities across the Ocean State.

A band of cool air will sweep across New England over the next 24 hours from the Great Lakes, setting up the chance for a clash with warm air. Severe weather on Wednesday could range from torrential rain to high wind and hail, according to forecasts.

"[T]hings will come together for some strong to severe storms on Wednesday. Main concern would be localized damaging winds ... and perhaps some hail," the National Weather Service in said in an outlook Tuesday afternoon.

Damaging winds could top 60 mph, according to AccuWeather, with the highest risk for Rhode Island in Providence and to the city's west.

The severe weather will exit the region early Thursday, but another storm could return by Friday bringing another chance of thunderstorms, AccuWeather predicted.