Winter storm arrives with blizzard conditions

Updated at 2 p.m.

A BLIZZARD WARNING remains in effect for southern Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts. / COURTESY NWS
A BLIZZARD WARNING remains in effect for Providence, southern Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts. / COURTESY NWS

PROVIDENCE – A powerful Nor’easter reached New England Thursday, threatening snow accumulations of up to 18 inches in some locations, according to the National Weather Service.

Nearly all of Rhode Island remains under a Winter Storm Warning, with some communities on the coast under a blizzard warning. Much of the state should expect between 8 and 14 inches of snow.

A wind chill ranging from five below zero to 25 below zero degrees Fahrenheit is expected Friday. The wind chill watch will remain in effect until Saturday afternoon.

Southern Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts, including Block Island, Fall River, New Bedford and Newport remain under a blizzard warning, with a possible wind chill of negative 10 to negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Winds could reach 65 miles per hour in those areas.

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Providence, East Greenwich, Warwick and West Warwick have also been included in the NWS blizzard warning.

Nearly all flights at T.F. Green Airport have been canceled Thursday. The Providence/Stoughton commuter rail line remains on a reduced scheduleThe R.I. Public Transit Authority has also announced detours on certain bus routes due to the weather.

Many municipalities in Rhode Island have also issued a parking ban in anticipation of the snow.

The NWS warns that power outages are possible during the storm.

All nonessential employees of the Rhode Island state government were given the day off Thursday.

In a storm briefing Wednesday evening, Gov. Gina M. Raimondo implored residents to stay home and to have a plan for the storm, including knowing where to go if their power went out.

Raimondo also instituted a restriction banning tractor trailer trucks from all state highways Thursday from noon to 9 p.m.

National Grid Rhode Island said Wednesday that it has has secured 101 additional line crews to assist its own 44 line crews during the storm and also has enlisted the help of an additional 55 forestry crews to help with downed and damaged trees.

The R.I. State Police have reminded residents what numbers to call due to storm complications:

For emergencies call 9-1-1

For non-emergency information call 2-1-1

To report a National Grid Power Outage, call (800) 465-1212.  For people with life-sustaining equipment in the home call (800) 642-4272.

To report a National Grid Gas Emergency:  Call 9-1-1 or (800) 640-1515

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