Boston, MA – Travel across New England and the broader Northeast is becoming increasingly dangerous this weekend as powerful winds and extreme cold impact major corridors, including Interstate 95, with hazardous conditions expected to persist through Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, an arctic outbreak is fueling wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, particularly along the I-95 corridor from southern New England through the Mid-Atlantic. These winds are combining with bitter cold temperatures to produce dangerous wind chills well below zero, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia in minutes.
Forecasters warn the strongest winds will peak Saturday afternoon into Saturday night, creating the potential for blowing snow, reduced visibility, and difficult driving conditions along I-95, especially in exposed coastal and elevated areas. Gusts of this magnitude may also cause isolated tree damage and scattered power outages, further complicating travel.
Daytime temperatures across much of New England are expected to remain in the teens or single digits, with wind chills plunging into the minus 20s and 30s in interior areas. Snowfall continues across portions of southeastern New England, adding to roadway hazards through Saturday evening.
Transportation officials urge drivers to delay non-essential travel, secure vehicles, and keep emergency kits on hand if travel is unavoidable. Officials also advise monitoring local road conditions and outage alerts as rapidly changing weather may impact commute times with little notice.
While a gradual warming trend is expected early to mid-week, forecasters emphasize that dangerous travel conditions will remain in place through Sunday, particularly along I-95 and other major Northeast roadways.
