The Pawtuxet River is on track to exceed flood stage at 9 feet and spill over local roads and threaten low-lying areas.
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Warning this evening and forecasting the river to rise above flood stage tonight to near 9.3 feet after midnight tonight. The river should fall below stage by early tomorrow.
The flood is the result of melting snow and about 1.5 inches of rain over the past 24 hours, the weather service said.
"Already reports have been received of water crossing the roadway at Pippin Orchard Road in Cranston," the weather service said.
At 9.5 feet, parking lots and roads are flooded in Cranston and Warwick near the Pawtuxet River.
Children should not be allowed to play near swollen rivers, streams or culverts as swiftly moving water can pose an imminent threat to life.
As of 7:45 p.m. tonight, the river was a 8.6 feet.