Good afternoon weather enthusiasts,
My cousin just started her professional career as a meteorologist and informed me yesterday that we are getting a MAJOR wallop of a storm TONIGHT. Why didn’t I send out a weather report yesterday, you may ask? Because I got diagnosed with cool guy syndrome B)
Anyway if you take a look at the radar you can already see the MASSIVE unit that has torn across the Florida panhandle and much of the southeast. Down south, they’re getting tornadoes, wind, and rain. Up here, the storm itself isn’t predicted to be quite as violent but we are forecasted to get some high wind gusts (upwards of 60 mph) and a couple inches of rain. And we all know how well this city can handle even a half inch of rain. Again, not AS bad as in the southeast, but still a lot of potential for wind-based damage and minor flooding.
The rain will melt snow, too, so you’ll wanna move any snow that’s piled up near places prone to leakage or flooding. Clear snow off of street gutters by your house. At least the rain should help clear off the sidewalks that absentee landlords and irresponsible homeowners refuse to salt (I am looking at you specifically Brown Waterman Co-op and 151-187 Waterman street) and the side streets the city so diligently plowed ONCE after a half inch of snow fell and then never again after the rest of the snow came pouring down.
WPRI has a great 3D simulation of a house for you and some good instructions. If you live in a multi-family building, take a peek to make sure someone has addressed these points. If they haven’t, call your landlord and complain.
But yeah, the ground is already saturated from the snow, PLUS it’ll rain 2-4 inches, PLUS trees are already damaged with branches laying around places making them even more susceptible to high winds. It’s not the most ideal situation. AND the NWS is monitoring another storm that might come later in the week, too. Gird your loins, people!
So, what’s on the menu tonight, boys? Flood watch (meaning potential for flooding), wind advisory (move anything that could temporarily gain the flight capacity of a boeing 737 max9 indoors), and coastal flood warning (flooding of anything by the coast or by river systems connected to the bay will flood). NWS says that some immediate coastal roads will be impassable for a few hours around high tide.
The worst of the storm will hit us overnight. Make sure your devices are all charged BEFORE bed and be prepared to lose power. RI Energy (run by a Pennsylvania-based corporation) says they are prepared for the storm. We’ll see how that pans out. But you can report outages on their website or by calling 855-743-1102. The sooner you report an outage, the sooner you’ll get your power back. Don’t assume someone else in your apartment complex will make the call. They won’t. BE PROACTIVE.
Keep an eye on local news stations and the NWS to see how this storm evolves as we get into the evening. They’re just predicting the future, so the closer we get to tonight, the more accurate their fortune telling skills will be. Things can always change–– for better or for worse!
When does all this start? Expect wind and rain to kick off around 5pm. Head home a little early today and run any errands you need to within the next couple of hours.
Stay safe out there, kiddos!
-Meg W.
Meg with the Weather 