Weather Service Predicts Mostly Rainy Storm, Snow for Afternoon Commute

UPDATE March 8, 6:45 a.m.: Warwick Public Schools have announced a one hour delay this morning, and school is out again at Kent YMCA, with no a.m. daycare.

 

UPDATE 6:35 p.m.:  The National Weather Service predicts total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches overnight with localized amounts up to 6 inches near I-95 in Massachusetts.

The weather service warns people to plan on slippery road conditions, especially between 7 p.m. and midnight when most of the snow will accumulate. Falling tree branches may be a hazard, officials caution.

WARWICK  — The National Weather Service’s updated forecast calls for rain and snow before noon, turning to rain until 3 p.m. before turning to snow again in time for the evening commute, with a maximum of three inches accumulating throughout the day.

Temperatures will reach a high near 39 degrees, with an east wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.

Mayor Scott Avedisian announced the following measures in advance of the storm:

• Trash pickup is expected to be on its regular schedule tomorrow
• Warwick Public Schools will be open on a regular class schedule; however, there will be no after-school programs
• Afternoon programs at the Warburton and Thayer ice rinks and McDermott pool are cancelled tomorrow
• A parking ban will take effect at noon Wednesday.

In addition to the City’s measures, a number of local cancellations were announced for Wednesday:

• West Bay Collaborative: RI Transition Acad. Open House 3/7 ; Cancelled. Next Open House 4/4
• Warwick Public Schools: Tides Cafe GrndOpening Canceled 3-7; Rescheduled 3-12 at noon
• Bridgemark Inc:
• Closed Weds 3/7 and Thurs 3/8
• Substance Use & Mental Hlth Leadership Council: Closed Tomorrow
• Warwick Public Schools: Afterschool Activities Canceled//No late buses-No DSP MeetingRhode Island Broadcasters Assn.

National Grid offers the following storm safety tips in advance of the second part of the second nor’easter of the week:

Keep Safety a Priority

We urge customers to watch out for their own wellbeing and the safety of utility crews working during the storm. Here are some tips to help keep everyone safe:

• Never touch downed power lines, and always assume that any fallen lines are live electric wires. If you see one, report it immediately to National Grid or your local emergency response organization.

• If you use a generator to supply power during an outage, be sure to operate it outdoors. Before operating generators, disconnect from National Grid’s system by shutting off the main breaker located in the electric service panel. Failure to do this could jeopardize the safety of line crews and the public

If you suspect a natural gas leak:

• Get Out – All occupants should leave the house immediately. Do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason.
• Call Us – After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call the National Grid 24-hour gas emergency number for RI: 1-800-640-1595
• Stay Out – Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe.Stay Connected:It is a good idea to ensure your mobile devices and laptops are charged prior to a storm so that you can stay connected.
• To receive text message alerts and updates from National Grid, text the word STORM to NGRID (64743).
• Use your mobile device to track outage information and storm-related safety tips through National Grid’s mobile site accessible at www.ngrid.com/mobile
• Other ways to stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter or Facebook and Instagram; we post all the latest storm and restoration updates.