Ghiorse Storm Update: RI Bracing for "Old-Fashioned Northeaster" With High Winds
GoLocalProv News Team
Ghiorse Storm Update: RI Bracing for "Old-Fashioned Northeaster" With High Winds
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch (more below) and the City of Providence has issued a parking ban and canceled in-person classes on Monday.
Ghiorse Update
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"This looks like an "old-fashioned" Northeaster for us with snow beginning tomorrow morning along with increasing northeast winds," said Ghiorse. "The heaviest snow seems likely from later tomorrow afternoon into tomorrow night along with wind gusts over 50mph. I can't rule out a change to sleet and perhaps rain later tomorrow night into Tuesday especially from the Providence area south and east. It should end as periods of snow on Tuesday. The water equivalent projected would mean a foot or more where it stays all snow which along with those fierce winds will mean considerable blowing and drifting. More on specifics of the accumulation later as newer data comes in."
Ghiorse said that the cold temperatures in the region should be moving out with the storm.
"I do not expect a return of the frigid Arctic air we've had lately after the storm passes," he added. "In fact it should gradually become 'milder' so that by Friday and/or Saturday we could see rain with temperatures in the 40s."
Storm Watch Issued
According to NWS, snow is expected to start in Rhode Island mid-morning and continue through Monday night, with a mix of snow and rain expected through Tuesday.
New projections show northern parts of the state getting a foot of snow; Providence is now expected to receive around seven inches.
The City of Providence issued a parking ban starting at 6 AM on Monday — and canceled in-person classes for public schools.
SEE LARGER MAP BELOW
The following NWS forecast was posted at 3:30 PM on Sunday afternoon.
Tonight: A slight chance of snow after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday: Snow, mainly after 10am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 33. Northeast wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 5 to 9 inches possible.
Monday Night: Snow before 3am, then rain and snow likely. The snow could be heavy at times. Low around 33. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.
Tuesday: Rain and snow likely before 8am, then rain likely between 8am and 9am, then rain and snow likely after 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 37. North wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain and snow before 8pm, then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 26. North wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
