Travel affected on one of year's busiest days; Block Island Ferry canceled

Jack Perry, Providence Journal
Updated ·2 min read

PROVIDENCE – A strong storm is moving through the region as thousands of travelers hit the road for their Thanksgiving destinations on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

With powerful winds kicking up coastal waters, the National Weather Service has issued a gale warning and the Block Island Ferry has canceled all trips today. Seas are at 6 to 9 feet and the wind is blowing at 25 to 35 knots with gusts up to 35 knots, according to the warning.

A wind advisory has been issued for Washington and Kent counties, as well as southern Bristol County.
A wind advisory has been issued for Washington and Kent counties, as well as southern Bristol County.

But as of about 7 a.m., Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport was showing flights were on time.

Forecast: Here's what weather in RI looks like for the busiest travel day of the year

Power outage map shows impact of storm in parts of Rhode Island

Some 2,800 electric customers were without power in the southern part of the state as of about 8:45 a.m., according to Rhode Island Energy's outage map.

A wind advisory has been issued for Washington and Newport counties, as well as southern Bristol County.

In the Providence area, the rain was light as of about 7:30 a.m., but the weather service is saying it could be "heavy at times." The wind was blowing at about 25 mph with gusts up to 37 mph.

The wind and rain should wind down this afternoon and Thanksgiving Day looks dry and brisk, the weather service says in its forecast discussion.

More: Traveling this turkey day? You won't be alone – AAA predicts 3rd busiest Thanksgiving

Vehicle restrictions on Newport Pell Bridge

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced just after 8 a.m. that there will be restricted access to the Newport Pell Bridge and Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridges for certain vehicles due to high-speed winds. House trailers/RVs, empty enclosed trailers, or any vehicle that, in the opinion of law-enforcement personnel, may not safely cross the bridge will be prohibited. Motorists who are denied passage will be assisted with safely turning around.

Under RITBA protocols, limited wind restrictions may be implemented when sustained wind speeds exceed 50 mph for a continuous period of 15 minutes or more; or wind gusts persistently exceed 50 mph over a period of 15 minutes.

Members of the public can check bridge conditions and closures by visiting our website at ritba.org, by calling RITBA at 401-423-0803, or on Twitter at @RIEZPASS.

Restrictions on both bridges were lifted just before 11:30 a.m., with normal travel permitted to proceed.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pre-Thanksgiving storm slows travel; Block Island Ferry canceled