Flood Threat As Heavy Rain Pounds RI Amid Spring-Like Warmup

RHODE ISLAND — There is a threat of flooding Wednesday night across Rhode Island as widespread downpours combine with winter debris-clogged sewer drains and streets still lined with ice and snow in parts of the state.

The sudden surge of spring will bring temperatures near 60 degrees both Wednesday and Thursday. But with the warm air also comes a storm that will drop heavy rain overnight Wednesday into early Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service, with flooding possible in poor drainage areas and those still experiencing ice dams.

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The NWS said the rain would begin after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, with three-quarters of an inch to one inch possible. Winds will whip from the south, with gusts as high as 37 mph. The temperatures will stay mild with overnight lows still in the 50s, so there is no chance of any wintry mix anywhere in southern New England.

A thunderstorm is even possible late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning before the rain wraps up around the time of the morning commute. That will pave the way for a much better spring afternoon with highs near 60 and partly sunny skies.

A winter chill will return on Friday as temperatures fall back into the low 40s with wind gusts up to 43 mph making it feel more like the 20s.

The weekend is looking cool, breezy and seasonable with a high of 43 degrees on Saturday and 40 on Sunday — when the sunset will be after 7 p.m. for the first time since the middle of September with the beginning of Daylight Saving Time on Saturday night.

Temperatures will stay cool on Monday with a high of 43 before another surge of warm air rushes into New England during the middle of next week with temperatures back up near 60 degrees by Wednesday and Thursday.

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