RI Weather Forecast: Blizzard This Week Being Watched

As the new year rolls in, good ol' Mother Nature is about to bring 2018's first snowstorm to much of the state this week. Forecasters are predicting blizzard-like conditions and in worst-case scenarios, up to a foot of snow in some of New England Thursday.

A major storm is slated to track close enough to the East Coast to bring snow and windy conditions to much of the Atlantic Seaboard later this week, according to the meteorologists at AccuWeather. It isn't exactly clear how much snow can be expected with the storm still three days out. "Whether a few flakes or several inches of snow fall will depend on the exact track of the storm and the how quickly moisture is thrown westward as the storm strengthens," AccuWeather writes.

As of Monday afternoon, the odds favor heavier snow in eastern New England. AccuWeather is warning of blizzard conditions - which technically means a storm that produces snow or blowing snow with winds in excess of 35 miles per hour and a visibility of one-quarter of a mile or less for at least three consecutive hours.

A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for all of Rhode Island. A rare freezing spray advisory has been issued for the waters from 6 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday. That advisory warns that light to moderate accumulation of ice is expected on vessels.

If you were thinking this snow may mean a reprieve from the arctic temperatures, think again: Forecasters are predicting that the bitter air isn't leaving. The suggestion here is you soak up the sun on Wednesday, when temperatures are in the high 20s, because they will be right back around zero for the weekend.

So exactly how accurate are the snowdfall forecasts? The further away from the date of snowfall the less accurate, sure. But here's this handy guide:

Story, photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch