By: Tim Studebaker
Facebook: @TStudebakerABC6
Twitter: @TStudebakerABC6
Email: tstudebaker@abc6.com
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – Southern New England faces a winter storm, the likes of which we haven’t seen in quite some time. The snow arrives Wednesday night and continues into Thursday. Visit abc6.com/weather for the complete forecast.
Here’s a breakdown of the expected impacts, and what you can do to prepare:
Once the snow gets going, it’ll come down at a good clip. Snowfall rates will likely exceed one inch per hour. On top of that, the ground is already cold enough that the snow will start to accumulate from the very beginning. Plows may have trouble keeping up, and roads will likely become snow covered. The best bet to keep you and your family safe is just to stay off the roads until the storm has ended, and the plows have a chance to clear the roads. Any travel is likely going to be impacted, whether it’s by car, train, or plane.
There’s also a chance for scattered power outages. Some areas have a slightly higher chance to see those power outages. South and east of Providence, including the coast, slightly warmer temperatures could mean wetter snow, which sticks to branches and power lines and weighs them down. That, combined with gusty winds, may lead to some scattered power outages. North and west of Providence, temperatures are colder, and that typically means a drier snow which isn’t as sticky and doesn’t weigh as much. Power outages are still possible there, but they are a little less likely.
Regardless of likelihood of a power outage, it may be a good idea to keep your phone plugged in as much as possible in case you lose power later. Prepare your generator, if you have one. Fill it up and make sure you place it outdoors for safety reasons. And, if you do lose power, keep your refrigerator door closed as much as possible to try to keep your food from going bad. [A Facebook viewer shares this creative tip: Use the snow to keep the food in your refrigerator cold if you lose power!]
While you’re at it, download the ABC6 News app so you can get track the storm on radar, and get updates from the ABC6 team of StormTracker meteorologists, even if you lose power. We’ll also send other important information right to your phone as soon as it becomes available.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2020