Newport’s 24/7 Rapid Snow Removal operation is getting reinforcements Saturday: the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is deploying an industrial snow blower to help clear streets ahead of Monday’s reopening of schools and City Hall.
The city said the high-powered snow blower and accompanying dump trucks are expected to immediately expand the city’s ability to clear snow and restore travel lanes curb to curb. The equipment will be active across the city on Saturday, and temporary traffic restrictions should be expected while the unit is in use.
Crews are targeting Hillside Avenue, Maple Avenue, Dexter Street, Girard Avenue, and Historic Hill on Saturday. The city is also working the southbound side of Broadway during Saturday daytime hours, asking drivers parked there to use the northbound side while work is underway. Residents on Carroll Avenue, Atlantic Street, West Narragansett Avenue, and Eastnor Road were also asked to move vehicles to off-street parking to give heavy equipment room to operate.
Meanwhile, Sunday’s forecast has worsened — the National Weather Service is now calling for a 70 percent chance of snow, with up to an inch possible, up from 30 percent just a day ago.
Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain on Friday asked families, students, and neighbors to help shovel sidewalks near bus stops over the weekend so schools can safely reopen Monday. “Special priority shoveling is needed around our school bus stops,” Jermain said.
The mandatory parking ban remains in effect on designated snow emergency streets in Newport until further notice. In Newport County, Tiverton’s parking ban also remains in effect. Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth have all lifted their parking bans.
Ocean Drive remains closed to vehicular traffic until further notice.
What’s reopening Monday
The City of Newport announced the following for next week:
- City Hall reopens
- Public meetings resume
- Trash collection resumes
- Newport Public Schools reopen
- Newport Recreation resumes programming (check CityofNewport.com/Recreation for schedule)
- Parking restrictions will be lifted as streets are widened
The city also noted that first-time applications for Newport’s 2-tier Residential Tax Program are not due until Friday, March 13. Applications for the city’s annual kayak rack lottery are due Saturday, February 28, at CityofNewport.com/RackLottery.
The city amplified the Newport Public Schools call for volunteers to shovel sidewalks near bus stops this weekend ahead of Monday’s school reopening.
The forecast
Today is the warmest day of the week at 44 degrees — ideal for melting. But Sunday’s forecast has taken a turn: snow is now likely, with a 70 percent chance of precipitation and up to an inch of new accumulation possible. That’s a significant jump from the 30 percent forecast just yesterday. Monday will be cold and sunny with a high near 27.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. South wind around 7 mph.
Saturday night: Patchy fog between midnight and 3 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.
Sunday: Snow likely, mainly between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 37. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Less than one inch of new snow possible.
Sunday night: A chance of snow, mainly before 8 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. North wind 10 to 13 mph. Less than half an inch possible.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 27.