RI Weather: 3 To 4 Inches Of Snow Likely Saturday Night

Rhode Island is braced for the first plowable snowfall of 2020, which is expected to hit the state on Saturday afternoon and last throughout the evening hours. The snow will hit from the west, working its way across the state in bands.

Snow will start falling in much of the state around 5 p.m., with the southwestern corner of the state likely to see flakes start flying a little earlier. The storm will be brief but intense, dropping several inches of snow in just a few hours. During this time, travel will be very difficult, the National Weather Service said. The snow is expected to taper off before midnight. A detailed map of snow end times is below.

Accumulation totals will vary slightly across Rhode Island, from three to four inches in Providence to two to three inches in Charlestown. Expected snowfall totals have been lowered slightly since Friday's original forecast.

Before the snow starts, expect a frigid day on Saturday, with afternoon highs in the low-to-mid 20s across much of the state and just above freezing along the coast. Because road surfaces will be completely frozen when flakes start to fall, expect snow to start sticking and accumulating right away.

Here's a look at the updated forecast from the National Weather Service.

Saturday
Snow likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 29. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday Night
Rain showers and snow, becoming all rain after midnight. The snow could be heavy at times. Patchy fog. Temperature rising to around 38 by 1 a.m. South wind 8 to 10 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Sunday
Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. West wind 10 to 13 mph.

M.L.King Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Northwest wind around 8 mph.

Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.