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What’s the difference between a subtropical storm and nor’easter?
Subtropical storms and nor’easters can have similar effects, but they are two distinctly different kinds of storms.
Rhode Islanders should prepare to be slammed by a storm moving up the coast that has already caused coastal flooding in the mid-Atlantic.
“A coastal storm moving up the East Coast will bring steady rains, gusty northeast winds, minor coastal flooding, and bluff and beach erosion to Southern New England Sunday and into later Monday night,” the National Weather Service wrote.
They continued to say that “downed branches/trees, powerlines and possible power outages” are potential impacts of this storm.
In connection with the holiday weekend storm, a storm warning, gale warning, coastal flood warning, high wind warning, and wind advisory have all been issued for parts Rhode Island.
Here’s what to know.
Southern New England is expected to start feeling the impacts of the storm on late Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. The “steadiest and heaviest rain” is expected Sunday night into Monday morning with the storm coming from the south and moving north.
However, it’s possible that scattered rainfall will start in the late morning, according to the Forecaster’s Discussion.
“The brunt of the impacts from this coastal storm are expected tonight into Monday. This is the time period where we could see 1-3 inches of rainfall, especially across RI and eastern MA,” the discussion said. “The prolonged duration is important, because it is unlikely to result in significant flooding. The exception to that would be clogged storm drains possibly leading to poor-drainage flooding.”
Thunderstorms are potentially possible on Monday.
Northeast winds are expected to start picking up around noon on Sunday and continue to blow through noon on Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
A high wind warning has been issued for Block Island, from 5 p.m. Sunday to 2 p.m. Monday. Maximum wind gusts on the island are expected to near 60 mph, and steady northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph.
“Remain in the lower levels of your home during the windstorm, and avoid windows. Watch for falling debris and tree limbs. Use caution if you must drive,” the advisory said.
Strong winds are also predicted along the coast, with Westerly potentially experiencing wind gusts of up to 40 mph and Newport seeing wind speeds up to 39 mph. Further inland, the wind will be less severe. The National Weather Service predicts Providence will see a maximum gust of 30 mph.
Much of the Rhode Island shoreline is vulnerable to coastal flooding from this storm, with an advisory issued for Washington and Newport counties from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.
“Up to one foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways,” the advisory said. Impacts could include “flooding of lots, parks, and roads with only isolated road closures expected.”
Flooding is most likely during high tide.
The National Weather Service reminded drivers to not drive through standing water.
WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) — Two people are dead and another person seriously hurt after a crash involving two vehicles on the highway in Warwick Saturday.
Rhode Island State Police said the crash happened around 1:34 p.m. on the ramp from Route 113 West to I-95 South.
According to police, a Hyundai SUV that was driving in the middle lane of the highway started to drift to the right, crossed the first lane, and then crossed onto the on-ramp lane. The car struck the guardrail twice before driving through the grass median.
The Hyundai then struck the driver’s side of a Mercedes SUV that was on the ramp, causing the Mercedes to roll over and come to a rest. The impact sent the Hyundai over the guardrail and down an embankment.
The driver of the Hyundai, a 73-year-old man, and his passenger, a 69-year-old woman, were both pronounced dead at the hospital.
A woman who was in the Mercedes was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition.
State police said all lanes of traffic were reopened by 4:30 p.m.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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A federal judge on Friday tossed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit aiming to force Rhode Island to hand over its voter information as part of the Trump administration’s push to acquire voter data from several states.
Rhode Island U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy wrote that federal law does not allow the DOJ “to conduct the kind of fishing expedition it seeks here,” siding with Rhode Island election officials. She added that the DOJ did not provide evidence to suggest that Rhode Island violated election law.
McElroy, a Trump appointee, wrote that she sided with the similar decision in Oregon. That decision ruled that the DOJ was not entitled to unredacted voter registration lists.
“Absent from the demand are any factual allegations suggesting that Rhode Island may be violating the list maintenance requirements,” she said in her ruling.
Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore (D) praised McElroy’s decision. He said in a statement that the Trump administration “seems to have no problem taking actions that are clear Constitutional overreaches, regularly meddling in responsibilities that are the rights of the states.”
“Today’s decision affirms our position: the United States Department of Justice has no legal right to – or need for – the personally-identifiable information in our voter file,” he said. “Voter list maintenance is a responsibility entrusted to the states, and I remain confident in the steps we take here in Rhode Island to keep our list as accurate as possible.”
The Hill reached out to the DOJ for comment.
The DOJ called for the voter lists as it investigated Rhode Island’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which allowed Americans to register to vote when they apply for a driver’s license.
The DOJ sued at least 30 states, as well as Washington, D.C., in December demanding their respective voter data. This data includes birth dates, names and partial Social Security numbers.
At least 12 states have given or said they will give the DOJ their voter registration lists, according to a tracker operated by the Brennan Center for Justice.
The department stated after it lost a similar suit against Massachusetts earlier this month that it had “sweeping powers” to access the voter data and that, if states fail to comply, courts have a “limited, albeit vital, role” in directing election officers on behalf of the administration to produce the records. The DOJ cited the Civil Rights Act as being intended to unearth alleged election law violations.
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