Newport Orders Mandatory Parking Ban, City Services Close Ahead of Blizzard Hernando

The City of Newport issued a mandatory parking ban beginning today, Sunday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. until further notice," a city notice posted on local outlets said, as forecasts called for 18 to 24 inches of heavy, wet snow, high winds and potential coastal flooding. Officials urged drivers to remove vehicles from roadways and use free parking at the Gateway Center, Mary Street and Touro Street parking lots.

The parking ban singled out no-parking zones in the Yachting Village and Fifth Ward, listing Ann Street, Pope Street (Spring Street to East Street), Anthony Street and Fountain Street in the Yachting Village, and Carroll Avenue (Morton Avenue to Ruggles), Old Fort Road and Harrison Avenue (Carroll Avenue to Halidon Avenue) in the Fifth Ward. A longer tow-priority roster named Annandale Road; Bellevue Avenue (Kay Street to Bowery Street); Bedlow Avenue; Bliss Road; Broadway; Coggeshall Avenue; East Bowery Street; Farewell Street; Friendship Street; Gibbs Avenue; Gould Street; Kay Street; Powell Avenue; Spring Street; Summer Street; Thames Street; Third Street; Warner Street; Washington Street; Washington Square; West Marlboro Street; West Narragansett Avenue; William Street; and Van Zandt Avenue (from J.T. Connell Memorial Road East to Malbone Road) as subject to tow one-half hour after the ban began.

Local media and city posts also signaled broader enforcement. Newport This Week posted a "BLIZZARD UPDATE: EXPANDED SNOW REMOVAL OPERATIONS IN EFFECT" and warned, "We anticipate this to be a multi-day twenty-four hour operation, and towing will be enforced on all parking-restricted streets." That post added a specific exception for the southbound side of Broadway, saying "a mandatory parking ban remains in effect for all snow emergency routes, with the exception of the southbound side of Broadway."

Municipal operations shifted to storm posture: Whatsupnewp reported "Newport Public Schools and City Hall will be closed Monday. Trash collection has been delayed by at least one day." Newport This Week's Feb. 28 post, however, said New­port Public Schools and City Hall "will remain closed for the remainder of the week, and trash collection is suspended," indicating differing published timelines for closures and refuse service.

Snow-clearing mobilization included state assets and neighborhood priorities. Newport This Week and Thenewportbuzz reported that heavy equipment on loan from the State was being deployed and that crews would "work aggressively to reopen streets in the Yachting Village and the Lower Thames Street Corridor before moving to other neighborhoods citywide." Thenewportbuzz framed city work as a 24/7 "dig-out" with towing to be "strictly enforced."

Regional impacts and assistance were activated: forecasters warned of potential whiteout conditions and coastal flooding, Thenewportbuzz said "Forecasters are calling for 18–24 inches of heavy, wet snow, fierce winds and possible coastal flooding," and that "A regional emergency shelter opens at Gaudet Middle School in Middletown at 4 p.m. Sunday." Residents in need were directed to "dial 2-1-1" for assistance.

City and local reports reminded property owners of post-storm obligations and the immediate enforcement posture: Thenewportbuzz noted that "After the storm, property owners must shovel adjacent sidewalks within five hours," and Newport This Week urged, "If you have a car parked on a parking ban street, please move it now." For ongoing updates, city posts pointed readers to the City of Newport’s website and the municipal social channel @cityofnewportri.