Northern, RI – With rainfall expected to continue into the evening in northern Rhode Island, the National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the region on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The alert, issued Tuesday morning, also includes parts of southern Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Monday brought record-breaking rain to some parts of the state and continued overnight, bringing to a conclusive end a summer-long drought with between 3.5 and 9 inches falling in northern RI. On Tuesday, NWS noted another 1-4 inches of rain was still expected and flooding was, “imminent or occurring,” with Industrial Road in Cumberland already closed and Woonasquatucket River near Centerdale in a minor flood stage at a level of 5.67 feet.
“It will take several hours for all the water from these storms to work through local drainage systems in urban areas,” the alert noted.
The communities of Burrillville, North Smithfield and Glocester are listed among locations expected to experience flooding.
The weather service advised drivers to, “turn around, don’t drown,” when encountering flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
A flood watch remains in effect through this afternoon, and rain may continue through the early evening.
