20222 blizzard in Newport. Photo Credit: Sarah McClutchy/What'sUpNewp

A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for parts of southern New England, with heavy snow expected this weekend. The National Weather Service in Boston/Norton, Massachusetts, issued the alert early Friday for Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.

The storm could dump 4 to 7 inches of snow across northern Connecticut, most of Massachusetts east of the Berkshires (except Cape Cod and the islands), and Rhode Island (excluding Block Island).

Several towns are getting ready, with parking bans already announced. Tiverton police shared on Facebook that their ban runs from 5 p.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday. Jamestown’s ban is set for 11 p.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday, while Middletown’s goes from 6 p.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday. In Portsmouth, a parking ban will be in effect from 8 p.m. on Saturday until 6 p.m. on Sunday.

At 3:59 pm on Friday, Newport Police announced a mandatory parking ban from 12 am until 12 pm on Sunday.

The City of Newport has issued a mandatory  Parking Ban from 12 A.M. UNTIL 12 P.M. ON SUNDAY, FEB. 9TH due to impending winter  weather.  

In order to help facilitate the City’s snow removal efforts, Newport residents are being urged to  take advantage of free parking at the Gateway Center, Mary Street, and Touro Street parking  lots during the storm. Alternatively, residents are also encouraged to request the use of a  neighbor’s driveway to secure off street parking to keep vehicles off the roadways.  

Not only does getting your car off the street help protect it from damage, but it also allows the  City’s snow plows to operate more efficiently. 

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ANY MOTOR VEHICLES PARKED ON THE FOLLOWING STREETS  ONE-HALF HOURS AFTER THE PARKING BAN BEGINS MAY BE SUBJECT TO TOW:  

Annandale Road, Bellevue Avenue: (Kay Street to Bowery St), Bedlow Avenue, Bliss Road,  Broadway, Coggeshall Avenue, East Bowery Street, Farewell Street, Friendship Street, Gibbs  Avenue, Gould Street, Kay Street, Powell Avenue, Spring Street, Summer Street, Thames Street,  Third Street, Warner Street, Washington Street, Washington Square, West Marlboro Street,  West Narragansett Avenue, William Street, and Van Zandt Avenue, from J.T. Connell Memorial  Road East to Malbone Road.  

If you’re not sure whether your street is subject to the City’s parking ban, you can view the City’s  interactive map at: https://buff.ly/3mrOknM 

Once the storm passes, residents and business owners are reminded to clear any sidewalks of  snow and ice adjacent to their property within four hours of the storm’s conclusion. Newport was  designed to be a walkable city and keeping clear paths for pedestrians after it snows is a  responsibility that all property owners share. For more information about the City’s snow preparations, please visit  www.CityofNewport.com/Snow

The National Weather Service warns that travel might be tough during this time. They’re advising everyone to keep an eye on the latest forecasts for any changes.

This Winter Storm Watch covers a big area, including cities like Hartford, Boston, Providence, and Springfield, as well as smaller towns such as Quincy, Cambridge, Framingham, and Newport.

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
255 AM EST Sat Feb 8 2025

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>021-026-RIZ001>007-082130-
/O.UPG.KBOX.WS.A.0002.250209T0000Z-250209T2100Z/
/O.NEW.KBOX.WS.W.0002.250209T0000Z-250209T1800Z/
Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA-Eastern
Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-Central Middlesex MA-Western
Essex MA-Eastern Essex MA-Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-
Eastern Hampshire MA-Eastern Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA-
Western Norfolk MA-Southeast Middlesex MA-Suffolk MA-Eastern
Norfolk MA-Northern Bristol MA-Western Plymouth MA-Eastern
Plymouth MA-Southern Bristol MA-Southern Plymouth MA-Northern
Middlesex MA-Northwest Providence RI-Southeast Providence RI-
Western Kent RI-Eastern Kent RI-Bristol RI-Washington RI-Newport
RI-
Including the cities of Smithfield, Northampton, Bristol, Quincy,
Narragansett, Westerly, Foxborough, Taunton, Greenfield, Milford,
Boston, Providence, Putnam, West Warwick, Fitchburg, Orange,
Coventry, Brockton, West Greenwich, Springfield, Fall River,
Norwood, Plymouth, Warwick, Lawrence, Barre, Amherst, East
Greenwich, Windsor Locks, Cambridge, Foster, Hartford,
Willimantic, Ayer, Gloucester, Mattapoisett, Charlemont,
Worcester, New Bedford, Blandford, Newport, Chesterfield,
Framingham, Lowell, Union, and Vernon
255 AM EST Sat Feb 8 2025

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 1 PM EST
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 4 and
  7 inches.

* WHERE...Portions of northern Connecticut, all of Massachusetts
  east of the Berkshires except for the Cape and islands, and all of
  Rhode Island except for Block Island.

* WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

&&

$$
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
338 PM EST Fri Feb 7 2025

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>022-026-RIZ001>007-081100-
/O.CON.KBOX.WS.A.0002.250209T0000Z-250209T2100Z/
Hartford CT-Tolland CT-Windham CT-Western Franklin MA-Eastern
Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-Central Middlesex MA-Western
Essex MA-Eastern Essex MA-Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-
Eastern Hampshire MA-Eastern Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA-
Western Norfolk MA-Southeast Middlesex MA-Suffolk MA-Eastern
Norfolk MA-Northern Bristol MA-Western Plymouth MA-Eastern
Plymouth MA-Southern Bristol MA-Southern Plymouth MA-Barnstable
MA-Northern Middlesex MA-Northwest Providence RI-Southeast
Providence RI-Western Kent RI-Eastern Kent RI-Bristol RI-
Washington RI-Newport RI-
Including the cities of Union, Worcester, Smithfield, Fall River,
Fitchburg, Lawrence, Newport, Norwood, Coventry, Providence,
Amherst, Springfield, Plymouth, Taunton, Chesterfield, Warwick,
Northampton, Lowell, Blandford, Putnam, Foxborough, Ayer,
Gloucester, Falmouth, Provincetown, Quincy, Narragansett,
Charlemont, Hartford, Barre, West Greenwich, Orange, Foster,
Bristol, Vernon, New Bedford, Willimantic, Brockton, Milford,
East Greenwich, Chatham, Framingham, Cambridge, Greenfield,
Mattapoisett, West Warwick, Boston, Westerly, and Windsor Locks
338 PM EST Fri Feb 7 2025

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING
THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...

* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 5 and
  8 inches possible.

* WHERE...Portions of Northern Connecticut, all of Massachusetts
  except for Martha`s Vineyard and Nantucket, and all of Rhode
  Island except for Block Island.

* WHEN...From Saturday evening through Sunday afternoon.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

&&

$$

Visit us at http://www.weather.gov/box

CM/AL

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...