/O.CON.KBOX.WS.W.0011.000000T0000Z-081220T0800Z/ EASTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA- SUFFOLK MA-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA- WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA- SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI- SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI-EASTERN KENT RI- BRISTOL RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GLOUCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD... CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON...QUINCY...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH... FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...MATTAPOISETT...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD... PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH...WARWICK...BRISTOL...NARRAGANSETT... WESTERLY...NEWPORT 450 PM EST FRI DEC 19 2008 ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EST SATURDAY... A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 AM EST SATURDAY. THIS WINTER STORM WARNING IS FOR ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND EXCEPT FOR THE CAPE AND ISLANDS. HEAVY SNOW HAS OVERSPREAD SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LATE THIS AFTERNOON. VISIBILITIES ACROSS THE AREA HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO ONE QUARTER OF A MILE. SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR WILL OCCUR THROUGH 8 OR 9 PM. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SKYWARN SPOTTERS HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS OF ACCIDENTS ACROSS MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND THIS AFTERNOON. ROADS ARE TREACHEROUS. THE SNOW SHOULD TAPER TO SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS THE INTERIOR DURING THE EVENING HOURS...BUT A STEADY LIGHT SNOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE WELL INTO THE NIGHT ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. IN ADDITION...NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TONIGHT... ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...RESULTING IN VERY POOR VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. A SHORT PERIOD OF BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS EAST COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. AT THIS TIME...IT LOOKS AS THOUGH MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL RECEIVE 8 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOWFALL BY MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. AGAIN...TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE REMAINDER OF TODAY. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME VERY DIFFICULT AT BEST. ONLY VENTURE OUT IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. A WINTER STORM WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN AN AVERAGE OF 6 OR MORE INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED IN A 12 HOUR PERIOD...OR FOR 8 OR MORE INCHES IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AT BEST ON WELL TREATED SURFACES...AND QUITE DIFFICULT ON ANY UNPLOWED OR UNTREATED SURFACES.