And snow it begins
Winter to make its first appearance today with quick-moving mixed bag of a storm
Snow way!
An early-season winter storm will bring two to three inches of wet, heavy snow to northern Rhode Island today, making it so the region will begin to look a lot like Christmas even though we’ve yet to carve the Thanksgiving turkey.
National Weather Service meteorologist Lenore Correia said residents from Woonsocket to Pawtucket can expect the wintry precipitation to start around 2 this afternoon, continuing into the evening hours. With the intensity of the storm peaking between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Correia anticipates that the inclement conditions could make a mess of the evening commute.
“Unfortunately, the evening commute
will be affected,” Correia said.
While the snow that falls will be wet and heavy rather than light and fluffy, it’s expected to come down over a span of six to eight hours, meaning that snowfall rates will not be as intense as some of the winter storms seen last season. Winds also are not expected to be all that significant, Correia said, with peak gusts around 25 miles per hour coming early Friday morning.
After piling on the powder, the precipitation will begin to
mix with sleet and rain around 9 or 10 tonight, as temperatures are projected to warm this evening. This mix, Correia said, could “make it pretty messy.”
One perk to this sucker punch of snow coming early in the season is that roads across the region are still fairly warm, which could make it difficult for the mixed precipitation to cause icing on streets in northern Rhode Island. That said, don’t take traveling for granted, as Correia said slick roads are “definitely possible.”
If you’re looking for the “jackpot,” where the snow will be heaviest in southern
New England, you’ll want to head toward northern Massachusetts, where three to four inches of snow is expected, Correia said.
With forecasters calling for snow, sleet, and rain that could impact tonight’s commute, Rhode Island State Police Superintendent Col. Ann C. Assumpico cautioned motorists to take it slow, as the cold, wet weather may create slippery driving conditions, especially on highway ramps, bridges, and side roads.
“The first winter storms of the season usually result in numerous crashes because people fail to adjust their driving habits to the road conditions,” Assumpico said in a press release issued Wednesday afternoon. “With temperatures at or below freezing, wet weather can create slippery driving conditions that require motorists to use more care.”
Assumpico offered several safety reminders for driving in winter weather: clear windows, mirrors, headlights, and taillights of frost and snow before driving; turn on your headlights while driving, even
during the day, to improve visibility; allow extra space between vehicles; slow down and allow extra time for turning and braking, especially on untreated surfaces; and do not use cruise control when driving on wet, icy, or snow-covered roads.
“With winter approaching, we encourage everyone to pay attention to weather conditions and use extra care when driving,” Assumpico said. “Take it slow and follow the rules of the road to keep yourself and your passengers safe.”
The storm will transition to a cold, soaking rain on Friday, as temperatures will climb into the mid-40s. Friday’s rain will drench the region all day before the precipitation departs around 5 or 6 on Friday evening.
Relief will come shortly thereafter, in the form of sunny days with temperatures in the 40s on Saturday and Sunday, leading into the Thanksgiving holiday week.