Providence, Rhode Island – St. Patrick’s Day week in Rhode Island could bring a late-season blast of winter as colder Canadian air drops south and raises the risk for snow just days before the official start of spring.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 day outlook, the period from March 15 through March 21 favors above-normal precipitation across New England, while temperatures across much of the eastern United States trend below seasonal averages. The setup develops as a broad cold boundary stretches from northern New England through the Great Lakes and south toward Georgia and parts of Florida, allowing colder air to funnel down the East Coast.
For Rhode Island, the overlap of moisture and colder air could affect Providence, Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, and Newport, where incoming storm systems along the East Coast could support late-season snow or rain changing to snow during St. Patrick’s Day week.
Drivers along Interstate 95, Route 146, Interstate 195, and Route 6 should watch for changing conditions if storms organize along the coast. Even light snow during March can create slick bridges and reduced visibility during overnight hours and the early commute.
The timing is notable because daylight saving time begins this weekend, yet winterlike conditions may persist across southern New England even as the first day of spring arrives later that week.
Forecasters expect additional updates as the mid-March pattern becomes clearer, and advisories could follow if colder air locks in while coastal storm systems develop.
