PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The first heavy snowfall of the season swept across Southern New Englanders on Friday. “There is some purity about it and the joy that it brings,” Providence resident Tamara Bzenic said. “I always remember my childhood.” The conditions made for a slick commute in the Capital City. “It’s always a problem when you’re leaving the city,” Bzenic said. “Driving is always a challenge, and we need to be very cautious and safe, but I always love snow.” Traffic was backed up for miles more than usual on the Washington Bridge, and travelers said they were surprised by the storm. “We came down from Hanover, New Hampshire, where we knew it was snowy and gnarly this weekend,” Trent Staats said. “But we thought we were coming to sunny Southern New England.” Gov. Dan McKee had deployed extra resources to keep the interstates clear during the storm “You guys have done a great job of keeping the roads plowed and salted,” Staats added. For some college students studying abroad, the snow was a surreal sight. “You definitely know that you’re not in Australia when you wake up to this,” Will Bennett said. “It’s quite fun, but I’ll be going home soon. It’ll be a little bit warmer.” Categories: News, Providence, Rhode Island