Tropical Storm Andrea Could Bring Heavy Rains, Inland Flooding This Weekend

By Elissa Bass

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Friday and Saturday as the remnants of the season's first tropical storm are expected to pass through New England:

"A weak frontal system approaching from the west tonight into Friday will be followed by the post-tropical remnants of Tropical Storm Andrea passing to the southeast Friday night. Extensive tropical moisture associated with these systems could result in heavy rainfall and urban and small stream flooding from Friday into Saturday morning. The potential exists for widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches with locally higher amounts."

The hurricane season started last Saturday and on Wednesday National Hurricane Center in Miami identified Tropical Storm Andrea as having formed in the Gulf of Mexico.

The storm is expected bring heavy rain to Florida Thursday before moving up the Eastern Seaboard Friday and Saturday.

Mansfield's weekend forecast from NOAA:

• Friday: Showers. Patchy fog. High near 62. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Friday Night: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog. Low around 57. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly before noon. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Northeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 77.