Politics & Government

High Winds May Close Newport, Jamestown Bridges

State officials will close down both the Newport (Pell) and Jamestown bridges if wind speeds top 70 mph.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency announced it will close both the Jamestown and Pell (Newport) bridges when wind speeds hit 70 mph, which is expected a early as Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Rhode Island is now under a hurricane warning as of 5 p.m. today. The National Weather Service has changed the forecast status from watch to warning as Hurricane Irene draws closer to southern New England.

Irene is still a Category Two hurricane, but forecasters at the National Weather Service say the storm could drop below hurricane status before contacting Rhode Island. As the report says, impacts from this storm will not be much different if it is a strong tropical storm or a low-end hurricane.

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Models project the storm will move very slowly through the area, producing extended periods of tropical storm and hurricane-force winds in many areas.

Rhode Island State Police Col. Steven O'Donnell. is asking all residents remain off the roads during the storm as well.

Find out what's happening in North Kingstownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 


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