RI's Slippery Roads Cause Crashes, Delays

Photo: Route 4 in North Kingstown as of 10:15 a.m. Monday. (Photo via: RIDOT)

RHODE ISLAND—Crashes, spin-outs and other problems are plaguing Rhode Island drivers on this snowing early-spring Monday.

The Rhode Island State Police is urging motorists to drive carefully and mindful of the snowy conditions. Residents are being asked to stay off the road, if possible, and to allot extra time to get to destinations.

Crashes and spin-outs have been reported in dozens of cities and towns as heavy flakes and accumulating snow fell with increasing intensity during the morning commute.

The Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service will be in effect until 8 p.m. and inland areas could see snow linger into the evening. When the storm is finally over, most areas will see between 3 and 6 inches on the ground. Totals could be a bit lower along the immediate coast and on Aquidneck Island.

Sunny skies return Tuesday but it will remain cold with temperatures stuck in the middle 30s at best and extremely cold for two weeks into Spring Tuesday night with an overnight low in the teens.

Any lingering snow still around by the end of the week is doomed: showers and heavy rain is in the forecast on Thursday with high temperatures in the upper 50s. It appears that April showers wash away April snows along with bringing May flowers.

Despite the snow (or perhaps to spite), most of the state is chugging along as usual this Monday. No school districts canceled or delayed classes and only a handful of communities instituted parking bans.