Blizzard — Washington, Rhode Island

2022-01-28 to 2022-01-29 · Washington, Rhode Island

Event narrative

The Westerly Airport ASOS (KWST) met blizzard criteria from 911 AM EST to 1146 AM EST, from 1153 AM EST to 301 PM EST, and from 420 PM EST to 453 PM EST. The maximum gust from KWST was 44 mph at 1253 PM EST. Winds generally gusted 40 to 60 mph. The strongest gusts were 64 mph in New Shoreham at 929 PM EST and 64 mph at Ninigret Pond in Charlestown at 1038 PM EST. Snowfall ranged from 11 to 21 inches. The highest amount was 21 inches in Charlestown.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1002833. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.