Rhode Island Issues Statewide Travel Ban Amid Blizzard Conditions and Whiteout Threats
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency has issued a travel ban starting at 7:00 PM today due to life-threatening blizzard conditions and whiteout visibility.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Blizzard Warning
- Affected area
- Rhode Island
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NOAA
Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Rhode Island.
Alert Details
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) has issued a Civil Emergency Message and a statewide travel ban. This alert is in response to expected blizzard conditions that pose an immediate threat to public safety. The emergency message was officially issued at 5:41 PM EST.
Affected Areas
The travel ban and emergency alert apply to the entire State of Rhode Island, specifically including the following counties and regions:
- Bristol
- Kent
- Newport
- Providence
- Washington
What You Should Do
Residents must adhere to the travel ban starting at 7:00 PM. RIEMA warns that whiteout conditions will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Residents are advised to remain off the roads to ensure personal safety and to allow emergency services to operate. Additionally, residents should prepare for potential power outages as high winds may bring down tree branches and power lines.
Expected Conditions
The region is bracing for full blizzard conditions characterized by whiteout visibility. High winds are expected to significantly reduce visibility on roadways and could cause structural damage to trees and utility infrastructure.
Timeline
The travel ban is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM EST today, February 22, 2026. The current emergency alert was issued at 5:41 PM EST and the initial notification period expires at 7:41 PM EST, though the travel ban remains the primary directive for the evening.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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