Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Parking lot attendant Steve Jones of Providence waves cars into the Fogarty Building parking lot on Sabin Street in Providence as they arrive for Bright Night festivities late this afternoon. Despite the snow, the events are on.

PROVIDENCE -- Some flakes continue to fall, and the skies are overcast early this evening.

But by 5 p.m., a snowstorm that swept through Rhode Island was essentially over, with just a few pockets of light snow falling, said William Babcock, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Taunton.

Cumberland saw the state's highest snow fall total, with about 9 inches as of 3 p.m., while northerly Burrrillville saw 7.5 inches and Charlestown on the south coast saw 4.7, according to the weather service.

The temperature, however, is falling.

Behind the storm will be northwest winds and the coldest weather thus far this winter. As of this writing, it's 21 degrees in Providence. Lows will be in the single digits overnight. With the wind chill, it will feel like it's about 10 to 15 below in the northern part of the state and about 10 below along the coast, Babcock said.

The National Weather Service's winter storm warning remains in force until 8 tonight, though the heaviest snow has moved off shore.

The warning area takes in Rhode Island -- save for Block Island and northwest Rhode Island, and southeastern Massachusetts -- except for Cape Cod and the islands.

Snowfall in the warning area is expected to range from 5 to 8 inches -- amounts up to 10 inches are possible in a few locations.

Winds will increase to 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph late this afternoon and continue through the night. Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible this evening.

That may mean blowing and drifting snow and reduced visibilities into early evening.

If you're heading outside this New Year's Eve, the weather service advises that people wear layered clothing as well as scarves, hats and mittens.

And that's just what pedestrians spotted on the slightly-slushy streets of downtown Providence appeared to have on, as they began to turn out around 6 p.m. Another common site: Coats with hoods.

Get the latest conditions, forecasts and more here.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Randal Edgar

 Tags  National Weather Service Rhode Island

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