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 Woonsocket 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, according to the National Weather Service.

Heavy rain is exepcted for Woonsocket 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 anticipates urban, street and poor drainage flooding. Small streams and faster responding rivers may also see some flooding as this system works through.