UPDATED: Blizzard Warning Issued; 20-30 Inches of Snow Predicted

By Les Masterson (Patch Staff)

UPDATE at 4:24 p.m. Sunday: The National Weather Service has issued a Blizzard Warning for 7 p.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Wednesday for all of Rhode Island.

The NWS is predicting 20 to 30 inches of snow with higher amounts possible. Snowfall rates will be 2 to 4 inches per hour at times during the storm, which the NWS is calling a “potentially historic blizzard.”

The storm is expected to hit late on Monday with the peak of the storm Monday night-Tuesday afternoon.

“Heavy snow and strong winds will result in white-out/blizzard conditions with near zero visibility. Travel will be impossible and life-threatening across the entire region,” said the NWS.

Power outages are possible with wet snow expected to bring down tree limbs and wind gusts of around 65 to 75 mph. ”The height of the winds will be late Monday night into Tuesday. The strongest winds will be across the coastal areas,” said the NWS.

Original article posted at 7:58 a.m. Sunday:

A powerful nor’easter that the National Weather Service says “has the potential to be an historic storm” is heading our way.

The storm could bring up to two feet of snow with occasional periods of zero visibility along with strong wind gusts, the weather service said.

A blizzard watch has been issued for the region beginning Monday night and the snow is expected to continue well into Tuesday night.

The potential for major snowfall and whiteout conditions means parents of schoolchildren should expect to have their children home from school on Tuesday and nonessential employees might be told to forget about coming into work.

The worst of the snow will be Monday night through Tuesday afternoon, according to the weather service and winds will gust up to 60 mph.

A Blizzard Watch means there’s a potential for blowing snow with sustained gusts over 35 mph with visibilities of a quarter-mile for at least three hours.

Travel is expected to be very dangerous and people are being advised to alter any travel plans they may have.

Compounding the severe weather will be the cold. The forecast is calling for temperatures no higher than 25 degrees on Tuesday with a low that night in the teens.

To check a list of closings and cancellations, go HERE.