Forecasters Warn of Flood Potential on Friday

A flood watch has been issued for Friday because the combination of heavy rain and melting snow could create flood conditions in some areas.

The National Weather Service issued the watch at 1:50 p.m. on Thursday and it applies to Salem, and extends across most of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It runs from Friday morning through Friday evening.

The approaching storm that forecasters say could create the flooding is expected to begin as rain and wet snow late Thursday night and turn to all rain by Friday morning.

A total of one to two inches of rain is expected to fall during the storm.

The heaviest rain is forecasted to fall mid-morning on Friday and the rainfall is expected to last through Friday afternoon, according to the weather service.

In addition to the rain, temperatures are expected to rise into the lower 40s and lower 50s, causing the snowpack to continue to melt.

That melting snow may put as much as another inch of water into the ground midday Friday.

Areas of poor drainage are expected to be the worst hit, with snow and ice-clogged drains expected to create some flooding. Some small streams may also rise, filling its banks.