Heavy Snow — Southeast Providence, Rhode Island

2020-12-16 to 2020-12-17 · Southeast Providence, Rhode Island

Event narrative

Snowfall generally ranged from 6 to 12 inches. Some specific amounts included 12.0 inches in Cranston, 9.5 inches in Pawtucket, and 8.3 inches in Providence. Winds gusted to 40 to 45 mph.

Wider weather episode

A storm system produced heavy snow, strong to damaging winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast. Although it was not deep low pressure and although it passed just south of the 40N/70W benchmark, its precipitation shield was expansive because of a broad 700 mb low over southeast New England, abundant moisture, and a very cold air mass in place. By far, the heaviest snow fell to the north (Laconia, NH) and west (Binghamton, NY), where more than 3 feet fell. But amounts ranged from 10 to 20 inches across much of southern New England. There was some minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide and also a flash freeze in eastern Massachusetts as the storm pulled away to the northeast.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 927964. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.