Emergency Medical Services in Westerly, Rhode Island, reported at 11:45 AM UTC on February 23, 2026, they are physically unable to reach patients without snowplow escorts amid massive drifting and near-zero visibility paralyzing Washington County. The update covers the reporting window from 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM UTC, according to a post from @OfficialYallbot on X. First responders in Washington County are struggling to access patients due to blizzard conditions, with the post advising residents to stay home under hashtags #RIwx and #Blizzard. This development follows earlier heavy thundersnow and power outages reported in nearby Plymouth, Massachusetts, where meteorologist Jim Cantore described very heavy wet snow conditions earlier this morning. A trained spotter in Nassau County, New York, reported 17 inches of snow at 5:30 AM EST two miles southeast of Plainedge, as posted by @MidwestWeather3 on X, indicating ongoing heavy snowfall in the region during the broader storm event.
