Winter storm expected to bring most snow to southern R.I.

THE MAP shows the amount of snow expected to hit the region this weekend. / COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
THE MAP shows the amount of snow expected to hit the region this weekend. / COURTESY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

PROVIDENCE – A winter storm watch is in effect for southern Rhode Island this weekend, which is expected to receive the most snow at 4 to 7 inches, while the northern half of the state may see accumulation between 2 and 4 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Kim Buttrick, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said snow will start falling at about 10 a.m. Saturday and continue throughout the evening hours, tapering off Sunday morning.
“This may be a case where Block Island comes in with more [snowfall] amounts than anybody else,” Buttrick said Friday.
High winds – in the range of 41 mph – also are expected Saturday afternoon and evening, with the strongest gusts in southern Rhode Island, she said. A high wind watch for Block Island also has been issued, she said.
So far, January has brought only 2.6 inches of snow to the Providence metropolitan area, according to Buttrick, who said average snowfall for the Providence metro in January is 9 inches.
While the storm will not bring as much snow as originally expected, Buttrick said its effects will still be felt, as Mid-Atlantic states will “get hammered the most” and receive anywhere from 1 to 2 feet during the storm, dubbed “Jonas,” as well as high winds.
“This storm has tentacles in terms of how it’s going to impact us all,” Buttrick said. “It’s going to wreak havoc on travel and plans.”
T.F. Green Airport already is showing cancellations for Saturday flights to and from Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Newark, N.J.; and Baltimore.
She noted the Philadelphia International Airport will be closed Saturday due to blizzard conditions, and that U.S. Postal Service deliveries, oil deliveries, all may be affected.
Meanwhile, closer to home, National Grid said the storm could bring scattered service outages.

“We’ve been monitoring this storm since the beginning of the week,” Dan Bunszell, vice president of New England Electric Operations for National Grid, said in a statement. “Our people are ready and outside contractor crews will be available if needed.”

The company also has been in communication with state and local emergency management officials and has issued an advisory to customers on life support and registered with the company that a storm is imminent and outages may occur.
National Grid advises people to have several working flashlights, at least one battery-operated radio and an extra supply of batteries in your home. Customers who experience an outage should call (800) 465-1212.
Other tips:

  • Never touch downed power lines, as they could be live electricity wires. Downed wires should be reported immediately to National Grid or the local emergency response organization.
  • Power problems can sometimes interrupt public water supply systems or disable well pumps. Keep bottled drinking water handy, as well as canned food.
  • People who depend on electricity-powered life support equipment, such as a respirator, should let National Grid know. To register as a life support customer, call the company’s New England Customer Service Center at (800) 322-3223.
  • Generators should be operated outdoors. Before operating a generator, disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also said that winter storms and bad weather are behind nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter. With this weekend’s storm, AAA is urging motorists to be prepared and to remain cautious on the roads, and to stay home, if possible.

- Advertisement -

About 46 percent of crashes involving bad weather take place in winter, with the highest proportion happening between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., when visibility is limited and roads are most likely to freeze.
Said Mary Maguire, AAA Northeast director of public and legislative affairs, “Snow and sleet can cause significant safety problems by reducing visibility and making it difficult to maneuver or stop.”

No posts to display