Winter Storm On The Way To RI After Near-Record Warmth

RHODE ISLAND — After a sunny, springlike start to the week Monday, another winter storm is taking aim at southern New England. Expect unsettled weather for the rest of the week, with dropping temperatures ahead of a winter storm on Friday.

Heavy rain will arrive Tuesday evening, dropping between half and an inch across the state. Showers will start after 5 p.m., continuing until about 3 a.m. Wednesday. After a murky start to the day Wednesday, expect unseasonably warm temperatures, with highs in the upper 60s by mid-afternoon.

The warmth won't hang around, however. Expect clouds and highs in the mid-30s on Thursday, ahead of winter weather starting Thursday night.

Rain mixed with snow will arrive Thursday, changing over to full snow overnight. Expect snow until about 2 p.m. Friday, before a changeover back to rain-snow mix throughout the afternoon. At this point, it's too early to tell how much accumulation to expect in this storm.

Tuesday Afternoon
Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night
Showers, mainly before 3 a.m. Low around 48. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Wednesday
A slight chance of showers between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Areas of fog before 7 a.m. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 66. Southwest wind 10 to 18 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Northwest wind 6 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Thursday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36. North wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.

Thursday Night
Rain, possibly mixed with snow, becoming all snow after 3 a.m. Low around 28. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday
Rain and snow before 2 p.m, then rain likely between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow after 4 p.m. High near 38. Northeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent.

Friday Night
A chance of snow before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 33. Northwest wind around 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind around 7 mph.