The City of Newport has issued a mandatory citywide parking ban for Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in anticipation of winter storm conditions, joining Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton in restricting on-street parking ahead of this weekend’s snow.
Vehicles parked on restricted streets 30 minutes after the ban begins may be towed, according to the city. Free parking is available at the Gateway Center, Mary Street and Touro Street parking lots. Residents are also encouraged to use a neighbor’s driveway to keep vehicles off the roadways.
Streets subject to the ban include Annandale Road, Bellevue Avenue from Kay Street to Bowery Street, 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.
A map of restricted streets is available on the city’s website at CityofNewport.com/Snow.
Once the storm passes, residents and business owners are reminded to shovel sidewalks adjacent to their property within five hours of the storm’s conclusion.
Newport County parking bans
Middletown has an on-street parking ban in effect from 8 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Sunday. Residents and businesses are reminded to clear their sidewalks per town ordinances.
Portsmouth has a parking ban in effect from 11 p.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday.
Tiverton has a parking ban beginning at midnight Saturday until further notice.
Forecast
Friday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 31 degrees and light north winds.
Snow is likely to move into the area overnight, mainly after 5 a.m. Saturday, with less than one inch of accumulation possible before daybreak. The low Friday night will be around 24 degrees.
Saturday is when the bulk of the storm arrives. The National Weather Service is forecasting snow throughout the day with a 90 percent chance of precipitation and accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. North winds will increase to 13 to 18 mph by Saturday afternoon with gusts as high as 32 mph.
A chance of additional snow continues Saturday night between 10 p.m. and midnight, with less than a half inch of additional accumulation possible. Temperatures will drop to around 7 degrees with wind chill values as low as minus 11. Winds will be blustery out of the northwest around 21 mph with gusts to 37 mph.
A cold weather advisory remains in effect for Newport County from 6 p.m. Saturday to 1 p.m. Sunday. The National Weather Service warns that wind chills as low as 20 below zero could result in hypothermia or frostbite if precautions are not taken.
Sunday will be sunny but bitterly cold, with a high near only 19 degrees. Blustery northwest winds of 14 to 20 mph with gusts to 31 mph will continue. Sunday night will be mostly clear with a low around 6 degrees.
Parking bans across Rhode Island
Several communities outside Newport County have also issued parking bans ahead of the weekend weather, including Burrillville, Central Falls, Coventry, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Narragansett, North Providence, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Richmond, Seekonk, Smithfield, Warwick, West Warwick and Woonsocket. The University of Rhode Island has a parking ban in effect beginning 8 p.m. Friday.
CCRI has canceled classes and activities at all campuses Saturday.
A full list of closings and parking bans across Rhode Island is available at ribroadcasters.com.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.