RI Snow: Parking Bans, School Cancellations Ahead Of 8 Inches

RHODE ISLAND — Break out the snow shovels and gas up the snow blower: Rhode Island is in for a good old-fashioned snowstorm. The National Weather Service upgraded expected snow totals overnight, with much of the state now expected to see up to eight inches of snow from Thursday night into Friday.

The winter storm watch issued for the state Wednesday was upgraded to a winter storm warning, in place from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

"This storm will impact the morning commute," the NWS said, with the first flakes expected to arrive overnight.

Expect hazardous conditions and low visibility throughout the morning hours. From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., up to one inch of snow could fall per hour. While accumulations of four to six inches were initially expected, they were later upgraded to six to eight inches.

School cancellations

The following public school districts will have distance learning days on Friday. Check with your local school district for specifics about at-home learning.

See live updates and the full list of cancellations from the Rhode Island Broadcasters Association.

• Bristol-Warren
• Chariho
• Coventry
• Cumberland
• East Bay Education Collaborative (Warren)
• East Greenwich
• East Providence
• Jamestown
• Johnston
• Kingston Hill Academy — classes canceled
• Lincoln
• Middletown
• North Kingstown
• North Providence
• North Smithfield
• Narragansett
• Newport
• Portsmouth
• Providence
• Rhode Island School For The Deaf
• Scituate
• South Kingstown
• Tiverton
• Warwick
• West Bay Collaborative
• William Davies Junior Career-Tech High School (Lincoln)
• Woonsocket

Parking bans

• Barrington: 8 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Saturday
• Bristol: Midnight Friday until further notice
• Coventry: Midnight to 6 p.m. Thursday
• Cranston: Midnight to 8 p.m. Friday
• Cumberland: 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday
• East Greenwich: 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday
• Hopkinton: Midnight Friday to midnight Saturday
• Jamestown: Midnight to noon Friday
• Johnston: 11 p.m. Thursday until further notice
• Lincoln: 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday
• Middletown: midnight to 6 p.m. Friday
• Narragansett: 11 p.m. Thursday until further notice
• North Providence: 10 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday
• North Smithfield: Parking ban all day Thursday, trash pickup delayed one day
• Providence: 2 a.m. Friday until further notice
• Richmond: Parking ban until further notice Friday
• Scituate: 11 p.m. Thursday though 11 p.m. Friday
• Smithfield: Midnight to 5 p.m. Friday
• South Kingstown: Midnight Friday until further notice
• Tiverton: 10 p.m. Thursday until further notice
• Warren: Midnight Friday until further notice
• West Greenwich: Midnight until 6 p.m. Friday
• West Warwick: starts 9 p.m. Thursday, continues throughout the day Friday
• Woonsocket: 11 p.m. Thursday through 7 p.m. Friday