Flash Flood Fears, Dangerous Surf As Elsa Hits Rhode Island

NARRAGANSETT, RI — Tropical Storm Elsa has arrived in Rhode Island. Starting Friday morning, heavy rain battered the state, along with dangerously high surf along the coast.

The greatest concern in this storm is flash flooding, the National Weather Service said, since three to six inches of rain could fall in a very short period of time. Drivers should take extra care with potentially flooded streets, and never attempt to drive through water in the road. Instead, turn around and seek an alternate route.

High seas

"For your safety please refrain from entering the water or navigating the shoreline rocks as the currents may become increasingly stronger," the department said.

As a result of the choppy seas, all trips on the Providence to Newport fast ferry were canceled for Friday, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation said.

Wind damage

Power outages remained scattered in Rhode Island, with only about 1,000 people in the dark as of 10:30 a.m. Wind damage is possible throughout the day, with gusts from 40 to 60 mph possible across the state.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency reminded residents to secure all loose items outside, and to be aware of any fallen tree limbs or downed power lines.

To prepare for the storm, National Grid called in crews to be at the ready for outages across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

“As always, we’re monitoring the forecasts closely and we have more than 1,800 personnel in place across Rhode Island and Massachusetts to respond as quickly and safely as we can,” said Michael McCallan, the vice president of New England Electric Operations.

To check the status of an outage, check out National Grid's online, interactive map. Call 800-465-1212 to report a new outage.