Pinpoint StormBeat: Snowfall totals climb, winds close road

WPRI 12 reporters and meteorologists are covering this major snowstorm. This page collects all the latest headlines and vital information. It will be regularly updated during and after the storm. Use ctrl+F on your keyboard to search.

WPRI will be on the air and streaming live until midnight. Bookmark  this link to watch online. Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy and CBS prime time will air tonight on our sister station myRITV - find it on these channels.

Do you have photos and videos about the storm? Share them with us by emailing ReportIt@wpri.com.

Forecast

Snow intensity and winds will pick up throughout the afternoon Friday, with the heaviest impact from sunset Friday to sunrise Saturday. The storm will be winding down by early Saturday afternoon. Most areas will see 1 to 2 feet of snow, with higher amounts possible in some areas.

• Details:  Latest Pinpoint Doppler 12 Futurecast
• From the meteorologists: Pinpoint Weather Blog
• Blog: Rhode Island's biggest storms

Top Headlines

• The National Weather Service says this may be a "historic winter storm" in Southern New England.
• States of emergency have been declared in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
• Gov. Chafee ordered a travel ban on I-95, I-195, RI-146, RI-24 and I-295 starting at 5 p.m.
• Massachusetts and Connecticut's governors both banned vehicle traffic starting at 4 p.m.
• Thousands of plows are fanning out across the region; officials warned they may struggle to keep up.
• Nat. Grid: Prepare for widespread, prolonged outages; 20,000 in RI were without power at 7:15 p.m.
• A coastal flood advisory is in effect for the south coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
• RI's congressional delegation has asked President Obama to quickly approve any aid requested.
• RIDOT's director asked drivers to stay off the road, and reported "a few traffic incidents" as of 2:15 p.m. 
• Bishop Tobin: Catholics "are, of course dispensed from the normal obligation" to attend Mass this weekend if conditions are dangerous.
• Photo Gallery: See pictures from the storm.

Transit

• Travel bans are in effect for major roadways in Rhode Island and all of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Details here.
• RIPTA will suspend all bus service beginning at noon Friday.
• Amtrak will suspend all train service beginning Friday afternoon.
• The MBTA will suspend service at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
• T.F. Green: Last flight left at 1:25 p.m.; no flights scheduled until Saturday.
• Globe: Airlines will suspend flights at Logan Airport from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon.
• Travel across the Pell and Mt. Hope bridges may be restricted or prohibited as the storm worsens.
• Block Island Ferry has canceled service Friday.
• Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) will suspend service at 3 p.m. Friday.
• New Bedford Regional Airport is closed.

Preparations

With Rhode Island preparing for a blizzard that could dump 30 inches of snow on the state, the Emergency Management Agency is warning drivers to stay off the roads.

“They're expecting blizzard like conditions later this afternoon with near zero visibility,” Annemarie Beardsworth, spokeswoman for the EMA, told WPRI. “Don't take a chance be safe. If you don't have to be on the roads, don't be on the roads. It's not the time to take a chance."

• RIEMA: Tips for being prepared for the storm

Dial 2-1-1 for information about shelters, heating centers, transportation, snow removal and more.

Power outages

National Grid and other utilities have started preparing for widespread, prolonged power outages that could result from the blizzard's heavy snow and high winds.

To report an outage to National Grid, call 1-800-465-1212. To report an outage to NSTAR, call 1-800-592-2000. To report an outage to the Pascoag Utility District, call 1-401-568-6222.

• Interactive:  Track power outages by city or town

Closings and Cancelations

• Pinpoint Closing Network: Latest updates

Snow Tracker

• Interactive: Tell us how much fell in your town

Cities & Towns

• Complete closings list
   
• Attleboro
  • Snow emergency and parking ban start 7 a.m. Friday.
  • Shelter opens noon Friday at LaSalette Shrine.
• Barrington
  • [no updates]
• Bristol
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday. Details.
• Burrillville
  • Parking ban from 8 a.m. Friday to noon Sunday.
  • Pascoag residents are urged to call the utility district's emergency line at (401) 568-6222.
• Central Falls
  • [no updates]
• Charlestown
  • [no updates]
• Coventry
  • State of emergency declared. Town offices and the library are closed for the weekend.
  • Parking ban starts at midnight Friday.
• Cranston
  • Parking ban starts at midnight Friday.
  • Cranston libraries are closed Friday and Saturday.
  • The Cranston Senior Center is closed Friday.
  • Trash pickup is suspended at 1 p.m.
• Cumberland
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
  • Cumberland Senior Center is closed Friday.
  • Parks and recreation activities canceled Saturday.
• Dartmouth
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
• East Greenwich
  • Parking ban from noon Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday.
  • Town Hall will close at noon Friday.
  • Transfer station will be closed Saturday.
  • A shelter is open at Warwick Veterans High School.
• East Providence
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
• Exeter
  • No school on Friday.
  • The library is closed Friday.
  • Town Hall closes at 11 a.m. Friday.
• Fairhaven
  • Schools will dismiss between 11 a.m. and noon Friday.
• Fall River
  • No school on Friday.
• Foster
  • No school on Friday for Foster-Glocester.
• Glocester
  • No school on Friday for Foster-Glocester.
• Hopkinton
  • No school on Friday for Chariho Regional.
• Jamestown
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban starts from noon Friday to 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Johnston
  • No school on Friday; 12-month employees report.
• Lincoln
  • No school on Friday.
• Little Compton
  • No school on Friday.
• Middletown
  • No school on Friday.
• Narragansett
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban from 7 a.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday.
• New Bedford
  • State of emergency declared at noon.
  • Schools will dismiss early Friday.
  • Parking ban from noon Friday to noon Sunday. More information here.
  • Shelter will open at Pilgrim United Church at 3 p.m. Friday.
  • Libraries and the zoo will be closed Saturday.
  • For non-emergencies, call the police at 508-991-6350.
• Newport
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
  • City Hall is closing at noon Friday.
• North Kingstown
  • No school on Friday; 12-month employees report.
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
  • The North Kingstown Senior Center is closed Friday.
• North Providence
  • No school on Friday.
• North Smithfield
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• Pawtucket
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban starts at 8 a.m. Friday.
  • City Hall is open Friday.
  • The Mathieu Senior Center will be closed Friday.
• Portsmouth
  • No school on Friday.
  • The transfer center is closed Friday.
• Providence
  • No school on Friday. City Hall will open.
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday; overnight passes are invalid.
  • Side streets may not be cleared until Sunday morning. Submit requests here.
  • Property owners must clear snow and ice within 8 hours of the storm's end without blocking public roads and sidewalks or else face $20 to $500 fines.
  • The Emmanuel House emergency homeless shelter is open.
  • Get Twitter updates from Mayor Taveras and PEMA.
  • More official city snow information is available here.
  • Providence Place Mall is closing at noon Friday.
  • Story: Ride-along with Mayor Taveras
• Rehoboth
  • No school on Friday.
• Richmond
  • No school on Friday for Chariho Regional.
• Scituate
  • No school on Friday.
  • The meal site at the senior center is closed Friday.
• Smithfield
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban on Friday and Saturday.
• South Kingstown
  • No school on Friday.
• Taunton
  • No school on Friday.
• Tiverton
  • No school on Friday.
• Warren
  • No school on Friday for Bristol-Warren.
  • Parking ban starts at noon Friday.
• Warwick
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban starts at 6 a.m. Friday.
  • Pilgrim Senior Center is closed Friday. 
  • The Warwick mall is closing at 3 p.m
• West Greenwich
  • No school on Friday.
• West Warwick
  • No school on Friday.
• Westerly
  • No school on Friday.
• Westport
  • No school on Friday.
• Woonsocket
  • No school on Friday.
  • Parking ban from 5 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday.

Businesses and Travel

• Pinpoint Closing Network:  Latest updates
• Twin River will close at 6 p.m. Friday.
• Providence Place Mall is closing at noon Friday; the Warwick mall closes at 3 p.m.

Officials are encouraging businesses to offer a flexible work schedule for employees.

• Road:  RIDOT, MassDOT, driving tips
• Air:  WPRI Flight Tacker
• Rail: Amtrak, MBTA
• Buses: RIPTA

Event Cancelations/Postponements

• The Emerald Square mall will close at 2 p.m. Friday.
• Twin River will close at 6 p.m. Friday.
• RI Special Olympics Winter Games at Yawgoo Valley Ski Resort on February 9th – Canceled
• CharterCARE Health Partners has postponed its employee banquet scheduled for Saturday.
• YMCA – Kent Co. - Closing at 1:45pm on Friday.  Closed on Saturday
• The Rescue! at Johnson & Wales: From February 9 to February 16
• American Idiot at PPAC: From February 8 to February 10 at 6:30pm
• Providence Bruins vs. Portland Pirates: From February 8 to February 10
• Have a Heart Cocktail Party at Hotel Viking: From February 8 to February 12
• The Ocean State Theatre Company in Warwick canceled performances scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Sports games are also being rescheduled.
• Recruitment event for Behavioral Health Care, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals canceled Friday
• URI Big Chill Weekend event: Friday, Feb. 8 and Saturday, Feb, 9, has been postponed to Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. 
• URI's basketball against St. Bonaventure has been moved to Saturday at 7 p.m.

Safety Tips

Local firefighters are reminding homeowners not to cover hydrants near their homes when they dig out after the storm.

The Red Cross is urging residents to prepare for this upcoming winter storm, emphasizing that preparing early for the storm will help avoid last minute rushing. The Red Cross recommends how families should prepare:

• Assemble an emergency preparedness kit: This should include winter-specific supplies such as warm clothes, hats, gloves, water resistant shoes, extra blankets, and sand or non-clumping kitty litter.
• Follow storm warnings: A winter storm WATCH means storm conditions are possible in the next 36-48 hours, a winter storm WARNING means that life-threatening or severe weather conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours.
• Prepare your home and car: Keep your gas tank full to keep the fuel line from freezing and make sure your home is properly insulated.
• Use technology: Free apps can give real-time information to help you prepare.
• Health Department: Those with special healthcare needs can enroll in the Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry. by clicking here. Those without access to a computer can call 2-1-1.

Storm-Related Stories

• Photos: Blizzard 2013 Pinpoint Weather Team Coverage
• ReportIt Photos: Blizzard 2013
• Expectant moms urged to be storm ready
• Gas stations running on empty pre storm
• Safety first when driving in a storm
• Stock your home with storm essentials
• Governor Chafee warns residents to be prepared

Stay with WPRI.com and Eyewitness News for updates on the approaching storm.