RI Weather Outlook: Warnings, Advisories As Bitter Cold Makes Way

The National Weather Service has issued multiple warnings and advisories as a bout of bitter cold descends upon Rhode Island in our first real freeze of the season. Temperatures are expected to nosedive as some wind chill factors flirt with zero degrees.

A special weather statement has been issued as an arctic front moves through Southern New England, followed by blustery winds and biting cold air. The wind has the NWS putting a wind advisory into effect until 6 p.m. Gusts of up to 40 miles per hour are possible.

Friday's temperatures will be in the 30s near the coast and 20s in the interior this afternoon, the NWS said, but wind chills will be in the 20s and teens. Wind chills Friday night into Saturday morning will in the teens and single digits for some locations.

Wind chills are essentially how cold it feels to humans and animals due to the wind adding to the cold temperatures. Providence and Boston could see wind chills as low as 5 degrees by 5 a.m. Saturday. This seems like a good time to remind you that it was more than 70 degrees last Friday.

The wind chill factors will at 7 a.m. begin to climb into the high 20s and low 30s.

A freeze warning will be in effect from 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday for Newport and Block Island.

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