UPDATE: Flood Watch —Tropical Storm Andrea to Bring Downpours Friday

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Smithfield and much of the Southern New England area effective from now until Saturday, June 8 at 10 a.m.

A Flood Watch is posted when forecasts indicate a potential for flooding to occur.

The first tropical system of the hurricane season is headed toward Southern New England.

Tropical Storm Andrea is expected to make landfall in Florida Thursday evening before speeding up the coast to New England on Friday.

Andrea is bringing tropical downpours and lightning to the Gulf region though the winds are not packing much of a punch at this point, according to Channel 7 meteorologist Pete Bouchard.

The current forecast shows Andrea hitting the area from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. Southern New England, including RI, could get up to three inches of rain out of Andrea.

According to Todd Manni at the Smithfield Emergency Management Agency, heavy rain is exepcted for Smithfield and the surrounding area Friday as the storm, or its remants, pass south of Rhode Island. The heaviest of this rain will arrive Friday afternoon/evening and continue through the early morning hours on Saturday before tapering off to showers.

Rainfall amounts of 1 ½ to 3 inches can be expected with locally higher amounts of up to 4 inches in some locations.  The National Weather Service is advising urban, street and poor drainage flooding is anticipated.  Small streams and faster responding rivers may also see some flooding as this system works through.

"A Flood Watch may be posted for Smithfield and surrounding area.  Any high winds associated as Andrea passes by should stay well to our southeast," Manni said.