First Person: Winter Storm Bears Down on Rhode Island

Yahoo! News is gathering brief first-person accounts, photos and video from the severe winter weather in the northeastern United States. Here's one resident's story.

FIRST PERSON | PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- With the Nor'easter lurking , the residents of Rhode Island are bracing for what looks to be a storm for the history books. As of 1 p.m. today we are experiencing light but steady snow with wind gusts increasing in strength by the hour. Our state, and Massachusetts and Connecticut, have declared a state of emergency. We have been advised to stay off of the roads due to worsening conditions and to allow the plows the opportunity to clear up the roads. Although the impact of the storm on our area is unknown, officials and residents are on high alert.

Pawtucket is located just north of our capital, Providence. I caught wind of the storm at the beginning of this week but the magnitude was unknown until a day or two prior. While watching the weather forecast on the various channels, different models have been brought forward that displayed varying statistics of what we may be in for.

From what I understand, the snow should pick up and the winds continue to gain strength by late afternoon. We may or may not experience a mix of rain/snow, but they have been reporting that we will experience snow into Saturday with a chance of accumulation up to 30 inches or more. Right now, we are experiencing a light dusting with some strong wind gusts, and it is being reported that the snow and wind will be picking up within the next few hours.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/first-person-winter-storm-bears-down-rhode-island-215900974.html

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