Rhode Island will just miss being in the path of a hurricane tomorrow, as Tropical Storm Kyle is expected to build strength into a category 1 hurricane as it passes 50 to 100 miles off to the east of Nantucket Island.

That’s the closest that the hurricane will come to Rhode Island, but the National Weather Service said the state will still feel the effects –– with about 1 to 2 inches of rainfall and wind speeds of 15 to 20 miles per hour tomorrow.

That’s on top of the 1 to 3 inches of rain expected in downpours tonight.

A flood watch is in effect through tomorrow morning. The National Weather Service is watching for flooding of small rivers and streams, and the rising of the Blackstone River and Pawtuxet River, but both are expected to stay within their banks.

So far, though, there’ve been no problems with flooding reported throughout the state. There was a lull overnight between the rainfall, just enough to prevent serious flooding.

Downeast Maine is watching for Kyle and had already posted a hurricane watch by late morning today.

Rhode Island has been lucky.

It’s been 17 years since Hurricane Bob roared up the East Coast, the last hurricane to make landfall in southern New England. Although Rhode Island is ducking this potential hurricane, the season continues through the end of November. “This is always a good reminder that we can have hurricanes come up here,” said Bob Thompson, the meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Taunton. “It’s always good to be prepared.”

The Web site for the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has information on what you can do to prepare for a hurricane –– http://www.riema.ri.gov/preparenow/index.php