Weekend storms pack a punch
The Associated Press
A rain and snow mix covered the area Sunday with heavier accumulations north of Providence.
Published: December 19, 2008
Updated: December 22, 2008
PROVIDENCE— A second wintery blast made its way across Southern New England.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service say the snow-rain mix, which began Sunday morning, dumped about a foot of snow in northern Worcester County but for most of Southern New England, the rain and snow mix will leave us with the potential for 2 to 4” along the coast, 4 to 8” where it stays all snow.
NBC 10’s RJ Heim says it will become very windy with plummeting temperatures Sunday night but the precipitation will end. Low temperatures and increasing winds will cause slick spots with some refreezing on the roads. Untreated pavements will become slippery overnight and will affect the morning coummute.
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More than two dozen flights were canceled at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick. State leaders were trying to improve on their disastrous response to last year’s major snowfall. A Dec. 13, 2007, storm tied up roadways around the state, and children were trapped on school buses for hours.
Gov. Don Carcieri told reporters that traffic was much less than during last year’s storm.
The storm that blanketed Southern New England Friday was to blame for at least one fatality, officials said. Police say the man was working with a neighbor on Apple Blossom Lane.
The chain saw got stuck, and the limb snapped and fell on the man. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have now identified the victim as 44-year-old Leo Renauld.
Snow began falling in Rhode Island between noon and 3 p.m. Friday and began to accumulate rapidly.
State police closed Route 6 west at Interstate 295 to trucks because they were having trouble making it up the hill. Passenger cars and trucks are being allowed to pass through the area. State police said the hill is very slippery and that trucks are struggling.
While dozens of flights were cancelled at T.F. Green, state officials said Amtrak and MBTA trains were operating on schedule. The Block Island Ferry did not running.
To make room for snowplows, most municipalities canceled school Friday. Many, including Providence, also enacted parking bans for all or part of the day.
In Massachusetts, the weather was affecting flights at Logan International Airport on Saturday. More than 30 cancellations were reported mid-afternoon, along with more than 100 flights delayed by at least 45 minutes. Travelers were urged to check with their airlines before making the trip to the airport.
The Associated Press contributed this report.
Reader Reactions
i know the storm started around 230 .the high school and the middle school would have been home safe but the from k to 5th grade would have slip and slide all the way home they get out at 320pm and it wasnt good out there my husband work in millis he left work at 130 got home at 3pm and manville hill was bad, so iam glad no school fri i rather see my kids and others home safe.. good job guys.
Our street got plowed ONCE on Friday and some of the cross streets in this town (coventry) weren’t touched. No plows around yesterday except for STATE crews.
It is now 9:08pm on Sunday night and GUESS WHAT!!!! That’s correct the town is plowing NOW!! Talk about OT.
So that meant that I had to go back outside and fire up the snowblower to clean out the end of the driveway so my husband can get out at 2:30am to go to work.
Does anyone know why schools are cancelled tomorrow?? There is no snow in the forecast.
If you do not or have not worked in an elementary school, you should not comment on whether or not cancelling school is a good idea. Hinsight is 20-20. When the children are safe at home, it’s easy to say “Oh, they should have gone to school”. When they are in school and the snow starts falling furiously earlier than anticipated and buses are having a hard time making it through the streets, it’s another story. Many daycares and after school programs close and school staff is left with trying to contact parents so the children will be sent home safely with an adult. I believe that whenever “trecherous” conditions are expected, children need to remain off the streets and within the safety of their homes.
As far as whether they get a day or two off now or in June, who cares?????? The only issue worth considering is the children’s safety. Worry about the number of days required in the school year at another time!
OK first the state does not close the schools. The cities & towns school departments chief takes care of that. I think the kids should have gone at least a half day. I was shocked with all the prep time they had they still couldn’t get the roads clean. I drove my wife to work on Sat AM and in MA was down to pavement hit the RI line and snow. 95 south was pretty good but on my return 95 north only had 1 1/2 lane clear. This is at 7 AM, come on!! Then I heard from the state (RI) workers I spoke to they were called in @ 2 AM Friday (that’s 12 hours before 1st snow fall) I understand getting in early but 12 hours????WOW OVERTIME> Now they won’t have any more money. The RI Gov. has to get out before he does any more damage!!!!!!!!
As for pointing fingers or panicking, my kids went to school last year and they were home on time. No issues there. They over-reacted this year.
Which would you rather have, a cold dreary day off in December, or a nice warm day in June?
Many kids still have school mon & tues this week, so no long vacation start there.
As for incompentence, watch the storm today. We are getting just a little snow supposedly, so watch how few plows you see on the roads today. I was out yesterday most of the day and didn’t pass a single one. Highways were slushy, main roads were slushy and slippery, not a plow or sander to be found.
Considering Rhode Island has been in New England forever, we really are pathetic when it comes to snow storms, everyone has the blizzard of ‘78 syndrome.
Seriously, whats with the milk and bread thing every storm? Can people not go without a loaf a bread until the day after a storm? Am I missing something? Wouldn’t a nice can of warm soup be better on a cold winter day than a sandwich?
AS A FORMER RHODE ISLANDER,LIVING MAINE A GET A BIG KICK HOW THEY SILL PANIC WITH THE FIRST SONW OF THE YEAR. ILIVE IN NORTHERN MAINE AND AS OF NOW THE TEMP IS-19o WITH 8 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND WITH 18” MORE TODAY. I DON’T LIKE IT BUT THIS NEW ENGLAND CHEER UP SOUTHER NEW ENGLAND WE 17 FT LAST WINTER
Instead of everyone pointing fingers at each other and sounding so selfish, why don’t we take a minute and say some prayers for the person who dies in this storm and definitely some prayers for the surviving family. Imagine such a heartbreaking loss right before Christmas.
I’m from Westerly and I don’t even know when it started snowing! Ha-HA! Who cares though. At least it’s snowing. If any single ladies out there want to cuddle with a 21 year handsome male, let me know! 
Ya know I think it is funny that people write on here how they blame the state when they decided to let the kids have the day off today in the wake of the storm..but I bet they are the same people who were freakin out when their child was not home last year when we had the storm and kids were stuck on buses for hours…Is there no pleasing you?? I am amazed how inconsiderate people in RI are. IS there no making you happy or you like to complain that the state takes whatever action they deem necessary in the safety of YOUR child(ren)! Granted the state did not do a good job last year but would YOU have made the same decision if it were up to you??? I guess you can’t please everyone…
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