Bartholomewtown
Journalist Bill Bartholomew brings Rhode Islanders closer to their world through analysis, interviews and reporting.
Bartholomewtown
Blizzard of ’26: R.J. Heim on a Record-Breaking Rhode Island Winter
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Bill Bartholomew / R.J. Heim
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Season 9
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In the wake of the Blizzard of 2026, we sit down with legendary Rhode Island weatherman R. J. Heim to break down what just happened — and where this storm ranks in the Ocean State’s long and dramatic weather history.
We assess:
- Final snow totals across Providence County, Kent County, Washington County, and Newport County
- Wind gusts, coastal impacts, and power outages
- Why this system intensified the way it did
- How it compares to benchmark storms like the Blizzard of ’78 and other historic nor’easters
- What made the Blizzard of 2026 unique in terms of track, snowfall rates, and cold air lock-in
- What the next 7–10 days look like as Rhode Island digs out
With deep institutional memory and decades of forecasting experience, Heim places this storm in context — separating hype from history and helping us understand whether this was a once-in-a-generation event or part of a larger climate pattern.
