Snow Forecast Downgraded for Thursday, 1 to 3 Inches Possible

By Mark Schieldrop (Patch Staff)

Rhode Islanders can breathe a sigh of relief — the snow forecast for Thursday has been downgraded.

The National Weather Service is now predicting just about an inch to three inches of snow from the storm as the front moves to our south.

Initial forecasts suggested Rhode Island could see another six inches of snow or more, but the quick-moving storm has tracked farther south, limiting potential snow totals.

Snow is expected to begin mainly after 3 p.m. Thursday and should clear out by Friday morning.

The storm will usher in another wave of extremely cold weather. Temperatures thursday night will fall as low as 11 degrees and the high on Friday will be just 15. The low Friday night will be -1 and temperatures won’t crack 20 degrees at least until after Sunday.

Any reduction in the snow projections will be greeted warmly by municipal officials. Most cities and towns have either spent or are close to spending their entire annual snow budgets cleaning up after three straight weeks with significant storms, starting with a blizzard that crippled the state for nearly three days three weeks ago.