Dozens of truckloads of snow were hauled off Newport streets and dumped at Easton’s Beach on Saturday as the city’s Rapid Snow Removal operation worked from The Point and the North End to the western edge of Broadway and the Fifth Ward.
City crews and state equipment — including an industrial snow blower deployed Saturday by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation — worked into the overnight hours and are expected to continue Sunday, the city said. Additional streets subject to snow removal will be announced through the city’s emergency alert system.
Saturday’s operation represented the broadest geographic push yet, spanning multiple neighborhoods in a single day. The city reported Friday that more than 85 percent of roadways had been reopened, a number that has continued to climb over the weekend.
Parking ban narrowing
In a sign of progress, the city on Saturday evening shifted from listing streets under the parking ban to listing streets where parking is now permitted:
- Broadway (northbound)
- Spring Street
- Thames Street
- Farewell Street
- Washington Square
- Washington Street
- Third Street
A parking ban remains in effect on all other designated snow emergency routes in Newport, though the city is no longer listed on the statewide closings page as of Sunday morning. Tiverton has also dropped off the statewide parking ban list. All other Newport County communities — Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth — had already lifted their bans.
Snow in the forecast today
The National Weather Service is calling for snow today, mainly before 1 p.m., with a 60 percent chance of precipitation and less than half an inch of accumulation possible. The forecast has improved slightly from Saturday, when the chance was 70 percent with up to an inch possible. Winds will gust up to 28 mph.
Monday will be cold and sunny with a high near 28 and wind chills as low as minus 3.
The bigger picture for the week ahead is encouraging for recovery: rain is likely Tuesday and Tuesday night (70-90 percent chance), continuing into Wednesday, with temperatures climbing into the 40s. That sustained rain and warmth should accelerate snow melt significantly. By next Saturday, highs are forecast to reach 51.
Sunday: Snow likely, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 35. North wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Less than half an inch of snow possible.
Sunday night: Clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as zero.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 28. Wind chill values as low as minus 3.
Tuesday: Rain likely, mainly after 3 p.m. High near 41. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Tuesday night: Rain. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
What’s reopening Monday
- Newport City Hall
- Newport Public Schools
- Trash collection
- Public meetings
- Newport Recreation programming (check CityofNewport.com/Recreation for schedule)
Ocean Drive remains closed to vehicular traffic until further notice.