Northern RI – The region’s first snow storm is expected to blow in on Saturday, and could dump up to a foot on northern Rhode Island, according to the latest projections.
Burrillville, North Smithfield and Glocester were initially expected to see 4 to 8 inches of accumulation from Saturday night into Sunday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. On Friday morning, NWS updated the projected snowfall, predicting 6 to 12 inches for northern Rhode Island.
The timing of the storm has also been updated, with snow is expected to hit the region as early as 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, which could be heavy at times. The storm will continue into Sunday, with more snow expected, and a Winter Storm Watch in affect through Monday at 1 a.m.
If temperatures stay low in the northwest corner of Rhode Island, as expected, the weekend storm has the potential to bring the greatest snow accumulation in two winters, according to some forecasts.
The system follows a warm and wet December, where temperatures averaged 3 to 6 degrees above normal. It was the third warmest December on record in Boston and Providence and precipitation averaged 1 to 4 inches above normal notes NWS, but was as much as 5 to 6 inches above normal in northwest Rhode Island
NWS noted that a warmer storm is expected around the middle of next week, which has the potential to bring flooding rain in addition to runoff from melting snow. Over the next seven days, precipitation is expected to average 2 to 4 inches in our area.
Editor’s note: The above story was updated Friday morning with the latest projections.
Just look out the window! Blink it will melt.
I love the way ALL the weather PEOPLE put the fear of GOD into EVERY winter forecast! We MIGHTR get this and we MIGHT get that! They will let us know 3 days AFTER the fact of what we get ! I really hate THE WEATHER PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!