The National Weather Service has extended a flood warning for areas along the Pawtuxet River in Cranston and Warwick and parts of southern Rhode Island, urging motorists to avoid flooded roads and warning parents to keep children from playing near swollen rivers.
The weather bulletin emphasized that streams and rivers in Rhode Island, including the Pawcatuck River in Westerly and the Pawtuxet River in Providence County and Kent County, are swollen from as much as 5 inches of rain over the past 24 hours.
The Pawtuxet River was at 10 feet, a foot less than the level that would lead to the flooding of homes in certain low-lying sections of Warwick and Cranston.
The Pawcatuck River, still rising, could exceed flood stage, according to the weather service, which warned motorists that flood waters can be far deeper than they might appear.
The flood warning for central areas of Washington County will remain in effect until 8:30 p.m., the service said late Saturday afternoon.