PINPOINT STORMBEAT (WPRI) — Frigid temperatures are sticking around for the next several days after Thursday’s storm left more than a foot of snow in many places across Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts.
Saturday morning, Providence firefighters battled a massive three-alarm house fire that destroyed two homes, and in neighboring North Providence, crews responded to a broken pipe in an apartment building.
At the fire in Providence, fire officials said that they limited their crews to 15 minutes in the cold at a time, directing them to warm up in trucks whenever possible.
A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until 10AM Sunday. This means that wind chills will range between -5° and -25° during this time. Winds are expected to gust between 30 and 40 mph Saturday afternoon.
- Stay Safe: Vital Safety Information for Extreme Cold »
- Looking Ahead: 7-Day Futurecast »
- More Details: Pinpoint Weather Blog »
The observatory at Mount Washington in New Hampshire was tied with Armstrong, Ontario, Canada for the second-coldest location on Earth Saturday morning, with the mercury hitting just -36:
And in Vermont, Killington Resort, New England’s largest ski resort, announced that it would close Saturday because of the weather:
Power outages were far fewer than expected, and those who did lose power regained it quickly. As
of late Saturday morning, only a handful of National Grid and Eversource customers remained without power. Interactive Map »
A number of emergency shelters have opened around Rhode Island to help people after the storm, including five statewide backup ones at local colleges. Full List »
Do you have storm photos and videos? Share them with us by emailing ReportIt@wpri.com. | View Photo Gallery »
Top Headlines
- A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect until late Sunday morning
- Firefighters wrestle with single-digit temperatures at 3-alarm fire in Providence Saturday morning
- Fall River’s Government Center closed Friday, will reopen Monday, Jan. 9.
- RIPTA said buses are back up and running, but riders should expect detours
- The MBTA said it’s operating as regularly as possible while working to clear the snow and ice
- Over 70 cars were towed in Providence for not complying with parking ban
Power outages
- Interactive: Track power outages by city or town
- In-Depth: With power outages possible, National Grid has crews on standby »
- Report an outage to National Grid: 1-800-465-1212
- Report an outage to Eversource: 1-800-592-2000
- Report an outage to Pascoag Utility District: 1-401-568-6222
- Snow hotline for Providence residents: 1-401-680-8080
Transportation
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said roadways have improved, but blowing and drifting snow could create slick spots. The agency is urging people to drive with caution.
- Road: RIDOT, MassDOT, driving tips
- Air: Interactive Flight Tracker
- Rail: Amtrak, MBTA
- Buses: RIPTA
- Ferry: Block Island Ferry | Rhode Island Fast Ferry
More tips:
- Before driving, ensure all snow is removed from your vehicle’s windows, roof, hood, truck and license plate
- Use reduced speed and allow extra space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
- Allow sufficient space for snow plows and sanding trucks and pull over for all emergency vehicles
- If you encounter a problem while driving, pull off the highway or move as close to the side of the road as possible and call 911
Tips
Dial 2-1-1 for information about shelters, heating centers, transportation, snow removal and more.
Rhode Islanders with disabilities, chronic conditions, and other special health needs can sign up for the Rhode Island Special Needs Emergency Registry.Stay with WPRI.com and Eyewitness News for updates on this Severe Weather Alert.
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