Blizzard Warning | Rhode Island Weather 6 AM

Good morning! I'm Aaron Jolly. And welcome to the Rhode Island Weather Podcast. It's Monday, February 23rd.. And folks, don't go outside. A blizzard is raging across Rhode Island right now. We've already picked up over two inches of snow. The Blizzard Warning runs through 7 A.M. Tuesday. And this storm means business. The most intense snow hits between 5 A.M. And 11 A.M. We're talking two to three inches per hour. That's the kind of snowfall where you shovel, blink. And it looks like you never started. Heavy snow continues through 6 P.M. Tonight before tapering to lighter showers overnight. Providence sees 9 to 13 inches total. Temperatures touched 30 degrees around 5 A.M. But they're crashing to 20 degrees tonight. Wind gusts hit 55 miles an hour, making it feel like 11 degrees this morning. Your face will hate you. Down along Narragansett Bay.. This is where it gets scary. Winds are already screaming at 37 miles an hour. Gusts could reach 60 miles an hour. That's hurricane force. Snowfall totals push toward 13 inches. High tide at 12:08 P.M. Brings a three foot storm surge. If you're near the water, expect coastal flooding. Temperatures start around 33 degrees and drop to 23 degrees by tonight. Power outages are likely statewide. Keep those flashlights close and phones charged. Now the week ahead tells quite a story. Tuesday dawns brutally cold. Providence drops to 11 degrees overnight. But you'll get sunshine for digging out. Then Wednesday flips everything. Temperatures rocket to 39 degrees and snow turns to rain. That's a 40 degree swing in 48 hours. Messy refreezing follows. Thursday and Friday stay unsettled with more rain and snow chances. Saturday finally delivers relief. Sunny skies and 44 degrees. Almost feels like a reward for surviving today. I'll be tracking this storm all night long. That's your forecast — we'll be back tomorrow. Stay safe, folks!