The massive winter storm that blanketed Southern New England in snow on Sunday is not done yet – snow is expected to continue into Monday. And then clean up can begin.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 8 p.m. Monday, warning that travel will be difficult with low visibility on roads covered with snow.
NWS predicted the storm would drop 12-20 inches of snow across much of the region. As of 7 a.m. on Monday, the forecast for Providence called for snow after 2 p.m. with likely accumulation of less than an inch.
The governors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island urged people to stay off the roads and asked for patience as crews need time to clear them after the snow tapers off.
In Rhode Island, Gov. Dan McKee banned all trucks on state roadways, beginning at noon on Sunday. RIPTA suspended all service at 7:30 p.m. Municipalities across the state enacted parking bans and cancelled school for Monday.
“Let's keep these guys and the men and women that are working roads safe,” McKee said at a press conference on Sunday. “And we complicate that with the more vehicles on the street – local and state – let's stay off the road.”
In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey told state employees to work from home Monday, and urged private companies to do the same where possible.
After the storm finally drifts out to sea, the snow it left behind won’t follow suit any time soon. Forecasters expect brutally cold temperatures and wind for the rest of the week. In Providence, the NWS forecasts wind chill values as low as -5 on Tuesday.
Communities across Rhode Island plan to open warming centers. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency maintains a full list of those locations. The 2-1-1 help line, operated by the United Way of Rhode Island, can also connect people to services.
Crossroads Rhode Island, the state’s largest provider of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness, said even brief skin exposure could be dangerous during the storm’s coldest hours.
“Do not wait until you are already shivering to seek shelter,” the organization said in a release. “This is life-threatening weather, and getting indoors as soon as possible will save lives.”
