PBN will publish updates on the storm throughout the day.
(Last update, 5:45 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – A storm is slated to hit Rhode Island beginning at 1 a.m. Local authorities have already begun instituting parking bans and canceling events in preparation.
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A winter storm warning has been issued for the area by the National Weather Service and is in effect from midnight until 7 p.m. on Wednesday for all of Rhode Island except Newport County and Block Island, and for all of Massachusetts except for the South Coast, the Cape and the Islands.
Snow accumulations are estimated at 12 to 16 inches at a rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour in the heaviest bands. Hazardous travel conditions are expected to “significantly” impact the morning commute. The National Weather Service says visibility will be one quarter mile or less at times, with blizzard conditions arising when northeasterly winds combine with heavy snow.
“Travel will be slow at best on well-treated surfaces and quite difficult on any unplowed or untreated surfaces,” the agency said.
T.F. Green Airport said that it will not close during the storm. However, flights may be canceled by individual carriers.
Currently, some flights to Atlanta, Charlotte and Philadelphia have been canceled by U.S. Airways and Delta Air Lines.
Airport spokeswoman Patti Goldstein urged passengers to call their airlines before leaving their homes.
The R.I. Emergency Management Agency has offered a list of tips on how to prepare for a storm (cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs, mittens are better than gloves) and what to do afterward (help shovel out fire hydrants, storm drains in your neighborhood).
The city of Providence released its preparedness plan at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. A citywide parking ban will go into effect at midnight and continue until 6 p.m. Wednesday. Trash pickup will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. In addition, Providence public schools and all after-school activities are canceled for Wednesday, and City Hall will be closed all day. Mayor Angel Taveras encouraged businesses located in the city to consider allowing employees to work flexible hours in order to reduce travel volume during the most difficult part of the storm.
Warwick has instituted a parking ban as of 9 p.m. Tuesday and will delay the week’s trash and recycling pickup by one day starting Wednesday.
The following areas have announced parking bans for this evening and Wednesday:
- Barrington
- Bristol
- Central Falls
- Charlestown
- Coventry
- Cranston
- Cumberland
- East Greenwich
- Fall River
- Hopkinton
- Jamestown
- Johnston
- Lincoln
- Mansfield
- Middletown
- Narragansett
- Newport
- North Kingstown
- North Smithfield
- Pawtucket
- Portsmouth
- Richmond
- Seekonk
- South Kingstown
- Swansea
- Tiverton
- Wakefield
- Warren
- Westerly
- West Warwick
- Woonsocket
For times and other information on school delays and garbage pick up, click here for turnto10.com’s closings/delays page.
The Smaller Business Association of New England has rescheduled its monthly breakfast for Jan. 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Providence-Warwick.
The Newport County Chamber of Commerce has postponed its Jan. 12 human resources roundtable, “Wellness with United Healthcare,” without announcing a new date.
The Washington Trust Co. announced Tuesday afternoon that its offices and branches in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts will delay opening until 11 a.m.
Brown University announced late Tuesday afternoon that it would be closed on Wednesday.
