UPDATED 1:05 P.M.: PORTLAND (AP) — Officials in Maine warn that higher than normal tides and heavy rains could bring flooding to coastal areas.

The tides are scheduled for Wednesday night and Thursday midday. Officials in Portland say they are advising citizens to avoid parking and traveling in areas of the city that are prone to flooding.

Street flooding is possible because extreme rain could occur when stormwater and sewer systems are already burdened over capacity.

Portland officials say city crews will monitor and barricade off streets if conditions necessitate such action. One of the highest tides of the year is scheduled for midday on Wednesday. Other tides to watch include Thursday morning at 12:37 a.m. and Thursday at 12:52 p.m.

UPDATED 12:52 P.M.: PROVIDENCE, R.I.  (AP) — A storm that includes some remnants of Hurricane Patricia was expected to bring heavy rain and wind to the East Coast on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service issued coastal flood advisories from Virginia Beach through New England, and small craft advisories and gale warnings off shore. Maine and New Hampshire could see 10-foot waves that cause minor flooding at high tide in cities including Portland.

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The weather service said the storm could bring sustained winds of up to 40 mph with gusts to 60 mph in some areas and 2-3 inches of rain along the Interstate 95 corridor from the upper Mid-Atlantic into New England.

Rain was moving through several Mid-Atlantic states by mid-day Wednesday, and thunderstorms were expected in some areas as the storm moved into New England.

Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, said the wind speeds forecast could be damaging.

“There could be some small tree limbs down and some isolated power outages,” he said.

In Rhode Island, some events on Wednesday were canceled or postponed, including a Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo and a state police inspection ceremony.

Most rain was expected to taper off by Thursday.


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