RI Weather: 'Bomb Cyclone' To Drop 8-14 Inches Plus Wind Gusts

NARRAGANSETT, RI—Call it 'bomb cyclone' or by any other name. The forecasts call for a storm that means business with punishing winds that could topple trees, blow down utility wires and knock out power, leaving many Rhode Islanders with no heat (never mind no lights, stove or fridge) hours before another round of bone-chilling temperatures. Hopefully, this storm will jog east and not live up to the dire predictions. But it's always best to prepare.

As of 2:38 p.m. Wednesday, a blizzard warning was issued for Newport and the southeast RI coast.

BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM EST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Travel will be very
dangerous. Damage to trees and power lines is possible. Total
snow accumulations of 9 to 12 inches, with localized amounts up
to 14 inches, are expected.

* WHERE...East and Southeast Coastal Massachusetts as well as
Southeast Coastal Rhode Island including Block Island.

* WHEN...From 7 AM to 7 PM Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Winds gusting as high as 60 mph will cause
whiteout conditions in blowing snow. Significant drifting of
the snow is likely. Scattered to widespread power outages are
anticipated.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds
and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout
conditions, making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If
you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions for
the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

The snow is supposed to start overnight between 1 a.m. along the South Coast and 4-ish into Kent County and Coventry. But it could blow in earlier. The biggest wind gusts come Thursday during the day and into the night.

The only good news is, the worst-case snow totals are only an inch more than the the likely numbers. (Or that might be the bad news, depending on how one feels about snow.)

American Red Cross has tips for coping, including how to let distant loved ones know you're okay, if news about this storm and its aftermath spreads across the globe.

Emergency preparedness agencies ask people to stay off the roads, if possible. Here is the winter storm warning for Rhode Island from the National Weather Service in Taunton, Mass.

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Taunton MA
350 AM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

MAZ006-013>017-RIZ002-004>007-031700-
/O.UPG.KBOX.WS.A.0001.180104T0600Z-180105T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.WS.W.0001.180104T0600Z-180105T0600Z/
Western Essex MA-Western Norfolk MA-Southeast Middlesex MA-
Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA-Northern Bristol MA-
Southeast Providence RI-Eastern Kent RI-Bristol RI-Washington RI-
Newport RI-
Including the cities of Lawrence, Foxborough, Norwood, Cambridge,
Boston, Quincy, Taunton, Providence, East Greenwich, Warwick,
West Warwick, Bristol, Narragansett, Westerly, and Newport
350 AM EST Wed Jan 3 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM THURSDAY TO 1 AM EST
FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Travel will be very difficult to
impossible. Damage to trees and power lines is possible. Total
snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches, with localized amounts
up to 14 inches, are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of eastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode
Island except Block Island.

* WHEN...From 1 AM Thursday to 1 AM EST Friday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Near blizzard conditions are likely in this
region. Significant reductions in visibility are possible with
near white-out conditions for a time Thursday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected. If you must travel, keep an extra
flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an
emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are
calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

And here is the forecast for Narragansett.

This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 30. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

Tonight
Snow, mainly after 3am. Low around 28. Light and variable wind becoming northeast 12 to 17 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday
Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 32. Windy, with a north wind 22 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 7 to 11 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Snow likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as -2. Blustery, with a west wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 16. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 3.

Courtesy Photos: National Weather Service