Operation Winter Weather Warning – updating throughout the storm for Rhode Islanders

Early Monday morning it was 17 degrees in Rhode Island

The good news is this is a light and fluffy snow – not the icy covering that exist in many parts of the US. 16.5″, officially has fallen (12.9″ at the airport) – with 1-3″ more throughout Monday.

POWER – RI Energy reporting no outages!

ROADS – Biggest issue now is clearing of roads – as Monday starts the roads are barely passable in some places, highway being worked on. Best to stay off the road especially before noon. – You can check the RIDOT Webcams HERE:  https://www.dot.ri.gov/travel/cameras_metro.php

SCHOOLS All Rhode Island Schools closed. However!  Virtual Learning Days set for: Bristol-Warren, East Providence, Lincoln, North Providence and West Warwick

PARKING – All communities have parking bans/regulations in action. 16 Downtown Providence parking lots can be used – plus 2 Downtown faciilties – $10/flat rate through Mon. afternoon – Convention Center Parking North Garage and Innovation District Garage (availability limited – open 11am today)

TRUCKS – Ban over at noon TODAY

BUSES – RIPTA detouring 18 routes – check here throughout the day – www.RIPTA.com/alerts

PLANES – Airport was closed – by 7am runway are beginning to open

TRAINS – AMTRAK – many canceled, rescheduled.  Updates at https://x.com/AmtrakNECAlerts

TRAINS – MBTA – most are running in Boston, but with significant delays

TRAINS – from Providence to Boston, storm schedule in effect – check HERE:  https://cdn.mbta.com/sites/default/files/media/route_pdfs/2025-12-16-cr-providence-line-storm-schedule-accessible.pdf

SIDEWALKS – Homeowners are being reminded about fines (up to $250) for not clearing sidewalks of snow and ice.

FIRE HYDRANTS & DRAINS – Take time to clear these areas out

WARMING CENTERS – Cranston Senior Center is open for those needing shelter! Address is 1070 Cranston Street, Cranston – right over Providence line. For more info on shelters, call 2-1-1 (United Way) – or Check HERE for more warming shelters

___

MONDAY UPDATES:

Monday Weather:

Morning:
The morning is cold, with temperatures around 17°F. Snow is ongoing or tapering off early, depending on location, and roads and sidewalks remain snow-covered and icy, especially on untreated surfaces.

Afternoon:
Snow winds down to flurries through the afternoon, with only an inch or two new accumulation, but skies stay mostly cloudy. Temperatures rise only slightly, reaching the upper teens to near 20°F, limiting melting and keeping conditions slick.

Evening:
By evening, snow has ended, but bitter cold persists, with temperatures falling back into the teens. Any packed snow or moisture refreezes quickly, expanding icy areas overnight.

Overall Letter Grade: D

___

Did you know?  We had 18 inches of snow 4 years ago.  How quickly we forget! So, if we’re a little out of shape in our storm prep, here you go:

Things you Need in a Winter Storm:

•  Communication – a way to get information and send out information. That may be anything from a crank NOAA radio to an extra-long battery charger for your phone (or a way to get into your car to charge your phone as needed)
• Non-perishable Food – in a power outage you will want to leave your refrigerator closed as long as possible. Foods such as peanut butter and jelly, canned soups, power bars, nutritious snacks – and even Ensure which has a lot of nutrients and can be drunk at room temperature as long as the bottles are not opened. Think foods that don’t require cooking (unless you have gas in the home) and can provide the energy you need to stay warm and alert. A manual can opener is a must!  Propane for the outside grill?
• Light source – battery powered flashlights, lanterns, etc. Nix the candles!  Just too dangerous
• Water!  Oddly enough you’ll want to have a good supply on hand. FEMA recommends one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days – you should, ideally, have this on hand ALL the time.
• Backup heat source indoors – Think generators, first. But do NOT bring them inside. Each year we hear of terrible tragedies because of this. If you can’t afford the big ol’ generators that are built in on the side of your home, then think about layers of blankets, and even crinkly aluminum foil type emergency blankets. If you have a recently cleaned and inspected chimney – go for it!  But, this will not heat your whole home – you will want to close off all the rooms you can and everyone sleep in one room – coziness helps generate and share the heat, too!  Think layers with blankets – start with a sheet, then a light blanket, then another blanket, maybe the aluminum blanket, then another blanket. Invest in some inexpensive hand and foot warmers. Hands and feet are key!  Mom tell you to wear a hat? Well, this is the best time to heed that advice as so much heat can be lost from your head. Pay attention to babies and the elderly who often don’t have the warning signs of getting too cold. Have sleeping bags?  Even a tent!  Anything to contain people in a small space and share the warmth.  Again, the car for quick warm-ups if things get really cold.
• Check that you know all your passwords – you might have to ask others who have used them – think ex’s, parents, etc.
• Take snowbrushes in from the car so you can clear the snow from the car with it as you ‘shovel’ your way in
• Keep the car doors unlocked (at least one, if your will not automatically lock) so you can open the doors easily if they freeze
• Keep your water running at a tiny trickle to try and prevent pipes freezing
• Make a pot of coffee and put it in the refrigerator so you don’t have to go it with a caffeine-withdrawal headache.

Cold Weather Safety Tips from the City of Providence

• Be aware of the fire danger from space heaters and candles; keep such devices away from all flammable materials. 
• Install recommended smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (at least one of each per floor in your home). 
• Stay indoors and use safe heating sources. 
• Do not use charcoal or other fuel-burning devices, such as grills indoors; these produce carbon monoxide. 
• Outdoors, stay dry and in wind-protected areas. 
• Wear a hat or hood to prevent heat from escaping the body and several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing, covering all exposed skin during exposure. 
• Bring household pets inside, if possible. 
• Check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and people with special needs. 
• Wear mittens, a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs. 
• Watch for signs of frostbite—skin appears white and waxy, numbness or no feeling in that area and/or possible blister. 
• Watch for signs of hypothermia—shivering and numbness, confusion or dizziness, stumbling and weakness, slow or slurred speech and shock. 
• Any dog, cat or other domestic animal left outside for more than 10 minutes during the storm or in temps below freezing is in danger.

Miscellaneous Get-Ready Items

From Tree Tech to take care of your trees

What You Can Do Now: A few simple steps can make a meaningful difference – most power outages are caused by trees in the wires and/or falling branches

✅ Look for cracked, hanging, or partially broken limbs ✅ Check for branches over driveways, roofs, vehicles, and walkways ✅ Note any trees that are leaning, have soft ground around the base, or show visible decay ✅ Move outdoor items that could shift under heavy snow or high winds ✅ Keep an eye on tall pines, older hardwoods, and mature trees that may not tolerate heavy snow loads

___

Snow Shoveling

Predictions are for a light, fluffy snow – thank goodness!  Here is Matt Espeut’s demonstration of the proper way to shovel snow – Matt is the owner of Providence Fit Body Boot Camp in Providence, RI.

The very first tip he has for us – “get someone else to do itâ€. If you’re like us we no longer see the teens walking up and down the neighborhood looking for quick snow shoveling jobs to make some extra money. So – turn to your landscaping companies – or put that request out on social media for someone who can recommend a resource to you.

But! If you are in good shape, used to physical exercise, and want to take it slow and use snow shoveling as a workout – it isn’t all that bad. We worry about big things like attacks to our hearts or brains, but we also want to avoid straining our back or other orthopedic and muscular injuries.

Deaths from heart attacks appear to be seasonal, peaking after Thanksgiving and extending through the holidays and winter season. Especially when the snow comes our way.

While there may be a variety of factors that play into the rise in deaths, but we know they are always in the coldest months, with sudden peaks when people are out clearing snow.

Higher risk individuals are people who have existing heart disease or who have had a stroke, high blood pressure, are overweight, smoke, have high cholesterol, lead a very sedentary lifestyle, or have a strong family history.

Several factors may influence the trend toward more deaths at this time of year —including an increase in respiratory infections in the winter, increased workload on the heart from activities such as shoveling of heavy, wet snow; environmental factors such as the use of fireplaces, which can deplete oxygen in the blood and place stress on the heart, and changes in atmospheric pressure, have been identified. Dietary influences are also implicated, as we increase our food, alcohol and salt consumption. For these individuals the physical stresses of the season may pose extra concern and medical experts urge individuals to take a few simple precautions to avoid becoming a victim of sudden cardiac death:

Avoid sudden exertion, such as lifting a heavy shovel of snow — even walking through heavy wet snow or snow drifts can strain the heart.

If the snow must be shoveled, try to identify a young person in the neighborhood who is physically fit to help out – before the snow falls. You can also go to the handy neighborhood app – Next Door – and ask for help from neighbors you know who may share their resource.

It’s not safer for a woman to shovel, particularly after menopause when risks for women are comparable to those of men. Some women will take over for spouses or parents who may have high blood pressure or heart disease. These warnings are for you, too, ladies – particularly later in life.

For those at high risk, ask your physician how much physical exertion is acceptable for you. Regular exercise can – and often is – a good thing. But rushing out the door to suddenly clear all that snow – without being conditioned for activities like that – can be a danger.

Avoid hypothermia at very cold times, typified by a drop in body temperature to a subnormal level. Signs are lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.

Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before going outside. This will draw heat away from the body’s vital organs. But do stay hydrated with plenty of water.

Wear layers of clothing to trap the air as protective insulation — and don’t forget to wear a hat or head scarf, gloves and warm socks, to maintain body heat.

Know the warning signs of heart attack:

Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.

Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms.

Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.

Know the warning signs of stroke

Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body.

Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.

Sudden loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech.

Sudden severe headaches with no known or apparent cause.

Sudden, unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially along with any of the previous symptoms.

In addition, we recommend learning CPR – it’s easier than ever to learn. Check in with your local hospital or the RI Department of Health or American Red Cross. Learn CPR-Learn It for Someone You Love.

Some experts are saying if you are over 40 – put the shovel down. Both for heart – and back – and muscular reasons, as well as others, this may be the best advice – so plan accordingly.

___

From RI Elder: Cold Weather Tips

___

WARMING CENTERS

There are facilities being opened in many cities and towns for shelter if you lose power for an extended period of time.  Check that out – HERE

___

READERS: If you think of anything helpful for people to know, send it to us at news@rinewstoday.com. This page will be updated periodically.