The National Weather Service said blizzard conditions were reached in several locations in Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts on Saturday, with snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet common across the region. The weather service said wind gusts reached hurricane force on Cape Cod, Nantucket island, and Cape Ann north of Boston.
A snowstorm is considered to have reached blizzard conditions when falling and blowing snow reduces visibility below a quarter-mile and winds frequently reach gusts of at least 35 mph for three consecutive hours. 
The storm entered the region late Friday, eventually prompting Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee to issue a state of emergency, close coastal bridges, and ban vehicles from all state roads.
Those travel bans ended at midnight, per the order of the governor.
At a news conference late Saturday afternoon, McKee thanked Rhode Islanders who remained indoors and off the roadways, and he praised state and local workers for clearing roads and responding to storm emergencies.
“I would say to the local communities–thank you,” the governor said. “Let’s give a nice thank you to them as you seem them during the next week for the work that they’ve done.”
State-run COVID-19 testing sites will also reopen Sunday at noon. People with morning appointments will be contacted by email and text. Anyone who needs to reschedule, can do so at portal.ri.gov.
The governor has continued to encourage people who need a warm place to stay to visit a warming center; locations can be found at riema.ri.gov.
As of early Sunday morning, the utility provider National Grid is not reporting outages in the state.
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Here are some health and safety tips from the Rhode Island Department of Health:
Shoveling
Snow shoveling can cause sudden increases in blood pressure and heart rate, increasing the risk of heart attacks. Shoveling can also cause shoulder and back injuries.
Before shoveling:
- Talk to your doctor if you have a history of heart trouble to make sure it is safe for you to shovel snow.
- Drink plenty of water. You can get dehydrated in cold weather, too.
- Dress warmly, and dress in several layers.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine.
- Warm up the muscles in your arms and legs. Walk around for a few minutes and stretch your arms and legs.
While shoveling:
- Take it slow, pace yourself, and take breaks.
- Don’t pick up too much snow at once. Use a smaller shovel, or only fill the shovel part way if you use a large shovel.
- Protect your back. Bend from the knees and lift with your legs bent. Stand with your feet about hip width apart for good balance and keep the shovel close to your body.
- Try not to twist. If you need to move snow to one side, move your feet to face the direction you are throwing the snow.
- Listen to your body. Stop if you feel tired or feel tightness in your chest.
- Call 911 if you or someone you are with is experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack (chest pain or pressure; sweating; shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting; pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, or in one or both shoulders or arms; lightheadedness or sudden weakness; a fast or irregular heartbeat).
Heating
Carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless. It can cause loss of consciousness or death. The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
- Never use a gas range or oven to heat your house. Do not use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside your house.
- If you need to use a generator, make sure it is properly installed and vented.
- If you lose power and it is too cold inside your house, go to a friend or family’s home or go to a warming center. Call 211 for a list of warming centers.
Babies should always sleep alone in their own sleep environment, even if the heat is lost in a home. Bedsharing is extremely dangerous. A parent can roll over and prevent the baby from breathing, or the baby can get trapped between the wall and the bed.
Babies typically need one more layer of clothing than adults. If your baby seems cold, the baby should be swaddled in a blanket, or dressed in an additional outfit.
Food safety during and after any power outages
During power outages, the food items that are of greatest concern are moist, perishable foods. Bacteria can easily grow on this food.
If you believe that you could lose power, turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. If you lose power, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
Power outages of more than four hours may be hazardous to food. If the food temperature is greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, or you do not know the food temperature, it is best to throw it out. In other words, when in doubt, throw it out.
– With reports from The Associated Press
