NEW: Storm Moving Up Coast Could Dump 6-12 Inches On Rhode Island

NEW: Storm Moving Up Coast Could Dump 6-12 Inches On Rhode Island

OK, vacation's over. National Weather Service Winter Storm Watches have been posted. It’s been nearly two weeks since our last threat of heavy snow (which turned out to be mostly rain) and nearly a month since the February block-buster. After that lengthy hiatus, it looks like another big storm will be developing along the East Coast during the next 24 hours. It should affect the Baltimore/Washington, D.C./ Philadelphia area early Wednesday and then turn its northern fringe on us from later tomorrow into early Friday.

A March mess on the way

It looks like a typical March mess with some spots getting heavy, wet snow, some seeing snow and rain mixed and others heavy wind-driven rain. Everyone should experience strong, gusty winds with attendant power outage potential. Coastal areas should watch out for flooding, heavy surf and, of course, beach erosion.

Accumulations

Details, as usual, are hard to pinpoint right now but heavy, wet snow is likely from Providence to the north and west, especially at higher elevations. Accumulations could be in the 6”-12” range. Lesser amounts should accumulate toward the south and east as rain and sleet get into the mix. Any shift of the storm track farther south and east would pull the heavy snow line in that direction. Likewise a track closer to the coast would push the rain/sleet mix north and west of the capital city. Northeast winds will howl 25-50mph with higher gusts.

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