Here’s the latest on the winter storm;

This story will be updated as more information and forecasts are updated.

Latest National Weather Service Forecast 

  • Tonight – Scattered snow showers, mainly before 9pm. Areas of blowing snow before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Wind chill values as low as -1. Windy, with a west wind 17 to 26 mph, with gusts as high as 49 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
  • Friday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -4. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.
  • Friday Night – Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as -12. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

 

Local Business & Government Messages

Pretty much everything is closed or delayed today, the following businesses have confirmed the following information with What’sUpNewp or through their own messaging. Have a message to share? or know of something that’s open? Email it to Ryan@whatsupnewp.com.

Several restaurants were already closed this week, view this story for full details – What’s Open, What’s Closed: When restaurants are taking time off this winter

  • American Red Cross – The Red Cross will be running an Emergency Shelter at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown. The shelter will open at 6 PM on Jan. 4th, 2018 and will remain open for as long as needed. The shelter is open to Newport residents and access to the Shelter is on the Turner Road side of the school with the entrance through the gym.
  • Bank Newport – Due to the impending storm all BankNewport Offices will be closed on Thursday, January 4th.
  • Bike Newport – Closed
  • Brick Alley Pub – Open on Thursday
  • City of Newport – Trash and recycling collection for the City of Newport will be suspended due to winter storm. Weekly trash and recycling collection service schedule modified for remainder of the week and the week of January 8, 2017.
  • City Of Newport -There will be a “Parking Ban” in effect at 12:00 PM (noon) Thursday, January 4, 2018, until 6 am Friday, January 5, 2018 due to the forecasted snow storm.
  • City of Newport – Newport City Hall will be closed today (Thursday, January 4) due to the severity of the snowstorm.
  • Diego’s – Likely open on Thursday
  • Gary’s Handy Lunch – Closed
  • Jane Pickens Theater – Closed on Thursday
  • Jf3 Salon & Spa – Closed on Thursday
  • Midtown Oyster Bar – Closed
  • Mokka Coffeehouse – Closed
  • Museum of Newport History & Shop – Closed
  • Newport County Chamber of Commerce – Due to the weather forecast, the Press Conference and Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Innovate Newport project that was scheduled for Friday, January 5th, has been postponed. We will notify you when it has been rescheduled. Also, due to the impending snow storm, the Chamber office will be closed onThursday, January 4.  
  • Newport County YMCA – Closed on Thursday
  • Newport Vineyards – Closed
  • O’brien’s Pub – Open on Thursday
  • Pour Judgment – Open on Thursday
  • Preservation Society of Newport County – Newport Mansions and Preservation Society’s offices will be closed on Thursday
  • RaNEw Salon – Closed Thursday
  • Regional Emergency Shelter – Due to the impending Winter Storm Grayson, the Regional Emergency Shelter serving Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth at the JH Gaudet Middle School at 1113 Aquidneck Avenue will be open to the public on Thursday, January 4th at such time that the roads are deemed safe by local law enforcement officials.
  • Seamen’s Church Institute – In anticipation of tomorrow’s snowstorm, Seamen’s Church Institute will be open as a day time warming center Thursday, 1/4 from 7am-4pm, and as an Overnight Warming Center Thursday, 1/4, Friday, 1/5, and Saturday 1/6 from 4pm to 7am.  Clients in need will be provided with a cot, blanket and pillow and be treated to a hot dinner, snacks, beverages, and breakfast.  Movies will be shown and games are available.  Free showers and laundry is available.  We have coats, hats, gloves, socks, clothing and toiletries to offer as well.
  • StoneAcre – Open on Thursday
  • Tavern on Broadway – Open on Thursday
  • The Bodhi Spa – Closed on Thursday
  • Town of Middletown – Trash and recycling collection will be delayed an additional day in due to the forecasted snow, resulting in a two day delay for the remainder of the week (this week’s collection was already delayed one day due to Monday’s New Year’s Holiday). Wednesday’s route will be collected on Friday, Thursday’s route will be collected on Saturday and Friday’s route will be collected on Monday of next week. There will be no delay in next week’s collection (Republic Service will have two teams of trucks collecting both Friday and Monday’s routes on Monday January 8th). Please keep trash and recycling carts off the roadway while DPW crews continue to clear snow from the roadway.
  • Town of Middletown – VIN Checks cancelled 01/04/18 will resume on 01/09/18.
  • Town of Middletown – Parking Ban Starting 5pm Wednesday thru 9pm Friday
  • Town of Portsmouth – Due to the impending winter storm, Town Hall and both the Portsmouth and Prudence Island Transfer Stations will be closed on Thursday, January 4.
  • Town of Portsmouth – There is a parking ban in effect beginning tonight at MIDNIGHT 1/4/18 until NOON on FRIDAY 1/5/18!
  • Wharf Pub – Closed Thursday
  • White Horse Tavern – Closed Thursday

 

National Grid

 

Rhode Island & Southeastern MA cancellations, closures, parking bans and delays

 

What To Know: Parking Bans in Newport

What To Know: Snow & Ice Removal in Newport

Property owners and/or occupants of buildings where sidewalks are present are required to clear snow from the sidewalks per the established city ordinances as follows:

  • 9.08.110. Snow removal. – No owner, occupant or other person having the care of any building or lot of land bordering on any street, square or public place in the city, where there is a sidewalk, shall fail, within five hours of daylight, after the ceasing to fall of any snow, to cause the same to be removed from the sidewalk adjoining such building or lot, and in all streets where there is no curbstone set, a pathway, at least four feet wide, shall be made on and along the sidewalk aforesaid for the convenience of pedestrians.
  • 9.08.120. Ice removal. – Whenever any sidewalk, or any part thereof, adjoining any building or lot of land on any street is encumbered with ice, no owner, occupant or other person having the care of such building or lot shall fail to cause such sidewalks to be made safe and convenient, by removing the ice therefrom or by covering the same with sand or ashes within four hours during the daytime.

 

What To Know: Sledding & Fun In The Snow

 

What To Know: Weather Restrictions For Local Bridges

Mount Hope Bridge Weather Restrictions – According to Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority, travel across the Mount Hope Bridge may be restricted or prohibited for certain vehicle types under various extreme weather conditions, primarily during periods of unusually high winds. The roadway across the bridge is a state highway. Therefore, the allowance or prohibition of traffic is under the direct authority of R.I. State Police. The Authority also is empowered to restrict or prohibit travel across the bridge. Travel may be restricted when winds originating from directions perpendicular to the bridge are recorded in excess of 58 miles per hour. Prohibited vehicles during this period are typically panel vans, panel body/box trucks when empty, truck/trailer combinations when empty, house trailers, and motorhomes. Closure of the bridge to all traffic will be considered if winds increase to a sustained 69 miles per hour in the above-specified directions. The restriction or prohibition of traffic across the Mount Hope Bridge will be facilitated and enforced by R.I. State Police.

Pell Bridge Newport Weather Restrictions – According to Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority, travel across the Pell Bridge may be restricted or prohibited for certain vehicle types under various extreme weather conditions, primarily during periods of unusually high winds. The roadway across the bridge is a state highway. Therefore, the allowance or prohibition of traffic is under the direct authority of R.I. State Police. The Authority also is empowered to restrict or prohibit travel across the bridge. Travel may be restricted when winds originating from directions perpendicular to the bridge are recorded in excess of 58 miles per hour. Prohibited vehicles during this period are typically panel vans, panel body/box trucks when empty, truck/trailer combinations when empty, house trailers, and motorhomes. Closure of the bridge to all traffic will be considered if winds increase to a sustained 69 miles per hour in the above-specified directions. The restriction or prohibition of traffic across the Pell Bridge will be facilitated and enforced by R.I. State Police.