How much snow has fallen? Rhode Island snow storm updates

Katie Landeck, Providence Journal
Updated ·8 min read

The first snow of the season has dropped a wide ranging amount of snow on Rhode Island Sunday, and in some places it's still falling.

As expected, there was a brief lull in the snow in the morning, but near whiteout conditions returned by early afternoon, mucking up roads that had been previously cleared. As we move into the evening, the temperature is expected to drop, potentially creating a flash freeze, according to the National Weather Service

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 1 a.m. on Monday.

Plow waiting for the light along Rt 146A in Woonsocket.
Plow waiting for the light along Rt 146A in Woonsocket.

Where did the most snow fall in Rhode Island?

As of 5 p.m., Harrisville, a village in Burrillville (and home to the Conjuring House), received the highest snow total so far, according to measurements recorded by the National Weather Service, coming in at 10.5 inches. It was the only location with a double-digital recorded snow total.

Who had the least amount of snow? Hard to say so far, but residents in several communities, including Bristol, Portsmouth and Charlestown, let The Providence Journal know that they had received 0 inches of snow as of late morning Sunday.

Tell us how much snow you've recieved: Fill out this form to tell us what the snow looks like in your neighborhood

Solomon Hudson, with friend Sophie Cesana, pushes off and over the edge for a downhill ride in the first snow of the season at Globe Park in Woonsocket on Sunday afternoon.
Solomon Hudson, with friend Sophie Cesana, pushes off and over the edge for a downhill ride in the first snow of the season at Globe Park in Woonsocket on Sunday afternoon.

Snow totals: How much snow did Rhode Island get?

As of 5 p.m. these are the snowfall totals in Rhode Island, according to the NWS.

  • Harrisville: 10.5 inches at 4:14 p.m.

  • Glocester: 8 inches at 2 p.m.

  • Burrillville: 7.5 inches at 12:51 p.m.

  • SE Slatersville: 6.9 inches at 3 p.m.

  • Slatersville: 6.5 inches at 2 p.m.

  • Scituate: 6 inches at 3 p.m.

  • W Richmond: 6 inches at 4:23 p.m.

  • W Smithfield: 5.8 inches at 1:23 p.m.

  • West Warwick: 5 inches at 3:10 p.m.

  • W Central Falls: 4.8 inches at 4:17 p.m.

  • North Providence: 4.5 inches at 4:09 p.m.

  • W Westerly: 4 inches at 3:53 p.m.

  • E Pawtucket: 3.3 inches at 4 p.m.

Rhode Island snow fall totals for Jan. 7 2024 as of 1 p.m. shared by the National Weather Service
Rhode Island snow fall totals for Jan. 7 2024 as of 1 p.m. shared by the National Weather Service

In other parts of New England, significantly more snow has already fallen. Parts of Massachusetts received a foot of snow overnight, and parts of Connecticut received 10 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are some reader-reported snowfall totals.

  • Foster: 5 inches at 7 a.m.

  • Coventry: 2.5 inches at 7:30 a.m.

  • Portsmouth: 0 inches at 9 a.m.

  • Charlestown: 0 inches at 11 a.m.

  • Bristol: 0 inches at 11 a.m.

More: Are you ready for winter weather in Rhode Island? Here's our checklist ahead of snow.

Several accidents reported around the state

With snow making for messy road conditions, several accidents have been reported around the state by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Ahead of the storm, drivers were advised to stay off the road unless necessary by officials.

If you do find yourself on the roads, here are some tips.

  • Clear off the top of your car: It's annoying to do, but you've got to clear off the roof, hood, trunk and license plate of your vehicle. And, all glass surfaces and lights should be clear and transparent, meaning all of the windows, the side-view mirrors, headlights, and tail lights. It's quite literally the law.

  • Drive prepared: Have your phone with you and fully charged in case you need to call for help. Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid the gas line freezing. Have an emergency kit in the car with you.

  • Drive like it's a snowstorm: Snowy and icy roads can make maneuvering more difficult. Drive slowly, increase your following distance, brake gently, and have your headlights on to make yourself more visible.

  • Don't pass plows and sanding trucks: Yes, the plows go slow but don't pass them. The drivers have limited visibility, and the cleared roads are behind them.

More: Are you ready for winter weather in Rhode Island? Here's our checklist ahead of snow.

How much snow is Rhode Island predicted to get?

Providence is forecasted to see 1 to 2 inches of snow, while parts of Northern Rhode Island could see 4 to 6 inches according to the National Weather Service. Along the coast, less than 1 inch is predicted.

It's expected to continue snowing this afternoon, mainly before 5 p.m. with north winds around 15 mph and gusts as high as 28 mph, according to the National Weather Service. The state is predicted to see between 1 and 2 more inches of snow.

This evening, it will be cloudy followed by sun on Monday.

Here are some tips for snow blower safety

As you start to clear out your driveway, here are some tips for safely using a snowblower from Merissa Siligato of the family-run All Outdoors Power Equipment, in Wakefield.

  • Clear snow away at least every six inches so the machine doesn't get clogged.

  • Make sure the driveway is clear of debris that could get stuck in the snowblower.

  • Snowblowers can pick up small items like rocks, so make sure you're pointing the snow away from breakable things like windows.

  • Take your time.

For more advice on snowblower safety, read the full article here. For advice on purchasing a new snowblower, here's are recommendations from our partner site, Reviewed.

The best snowblowers of 2024: What to know when shopping for a snowblower

Road conditions in Rhode Island

If you’re asking yourself “How are the roads today?” before heading out, there’s an easy way to check: the RIDOT traffic cameras.

The Department of Transportation has live traffic cameras for every major artery of the state highway system, giving drivers an easy way to check on if it’s icy on Interstate 295, if there’s an accident on Interstate 95 or if there is traffic backup on the Claiborne Pell Bridge heading into, or out of, Newport.

Find the list of cameras here.

Ahead of the storm at a press conference yesterday, Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti and Governor Dan McKee told drivers to stay off the roads during the storm unless absolutely necessary.

Snow and slush being cleared from a driveway in Providence.
Snow and slush being cleared from a driveway in Providence.

"But if you are on the roads," McKee said, "let's make sure that we keep our distance from those workers that are clearing the roads for our safety. Plowing is not easy."

On the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, RIDOT has reported several crashes along main highways.

Flights canceled at TF Green due to snowstorm

Nearly a dozen flights flying out of Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport were canceled on Sunday morning due to the weather.

American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines all canceled flights in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to the flight tracker. There are canceled flights through 9 a.m. this morning, with a few exceptions.

As of 7 a.m., flights taking off after 10 a.m. are listed as "on time," with the exception of one canceled JetBlue flight. However, the snow is expected to resume in the afternoon after a lull so travelers should check the status of their flights.

So far, Rhode Island has avoided power outages

While there were concerns, so far, Rhode Island has avoided power outages.

The only major outages in the region are in Worcester County, Massachusetts, where the snowfall from this storm has been heavier, there are 3,841 outages reported as of 7:10 a.m.

The National Weather Service has cautioned that power outages are possible throughout the region today due to the heavy, wet snows and wind associated with this storm. In advance of the storm, Rhode Island Energy has put additional crews in place to deal with any outages. They've staffed additional line crews and forestry teams for the event, Gov. Dan McKee said yesterday, at a press conference.

For up-to-date information on outages, see the power outage map below which updates every 15 minutes.

Snow totals: How much snow has fallen so far in RI overnight?

As of 5:15 a.m., these are the snowfall totals in Rhode Island, according to the NWS. Many of these measurements were taken between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.:

A snowstorm dropped several inches of wet, heavy snow across Rhode Island on Jan. 7, 2024. These photos, taken along the Coventry Greenway bike path, show the accumulation around 9 a.m.
A snowstorm dropped several inches of wet, heavy snow across Rhode Island on Jan. 7, 2024. These photos, taken along the Coventry Greenway bike path, show the accumulation around 9 a.m.

  • West Warwick: 3.4 inches

  • Cumberland: 3.2 inches

  • Glocester: 2.5 inches

  • Providence: 1.5 inches

  • East Providence: 1.5 inches

  • Richmond: 1.8 inches

In other parts of New England, significantly more snow has already fallen, Parts of Massachusetts received 8 inches of snow overnight, and parts of Connecticut received 6 inches of snow.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI weather: Live snow storm coverage, snow totals for Rhode Island