Winter Storm in Northwest Providence, Rhode Island

Snowfall generally ranged from 13 to 19 inches. The highest amount reported was 19.1 inches in Harrisville. Winds gusted 30 to 40 mph. The Smithfield Airport ASOS (KSFZ) reported blizzard criteria from 806 AM EST to 827 AM EST and from 853 AM EST to 956 AM EST but then all wind data were lost and thus a blizzard was unable to be determined.

Explosive cyclogenesis of a low pressure center off the Mid Atlantic coast brought a strong winter storm with blizzard conditions to all of southern New England Saturday and Saturday night. The storm tracked from east of the Carolinas to the 70w/40n benchmark bringing extreme snowfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour and winds gusting to hurricane force along the coast and 50 to 60 mph inland. The heaviest snow, just under 30 inches, fell over southeast MA, and in RI up to 2 feet fell. Snow tapered off overnight Saturday with quiet weather to follow on Sunday.