Providence, RI – Rhode Island may experience a mix of cold rain and marginal wintry weather during the Thanksgiving travel window, as new federal outlooks show a near-normal precipitation pattern, leaving the state with a 50–50 chance of seeing some form of wintry mix between November 23 and November 29.
According to the Climate Prediction Center’s 8–14 Day Outlook released Saturday, Rhode Island sits between colder inland New England air and warmer Atlantic influence. This balancing act is typical for late November and results in highly storm-track-dependent travel outcomes.
Inland and northern parts of the state—including Woonsocket, Cumberland, Scituate, and Foster—have the highest chance for mixed precipitation. These areas often cool faster at night, and if a system passes close enough to the coastline, cold air funneling in from Massachusetts could tilt precipitation toward a brief mix or wet flakes during overnight or early-morning hours.
The Providence metro—including Cranston, Warwick, Pawtucket, and East Providence—sits in a marginal zone, where temperatures will likely stay just warm enough for cold rain during most events. Still, a slight shift west or south in storm track could allow for brief periods of wet snow mixing in north and west of the city.
Coastal communities—including Newport, Narragansett, Westerly, and Block Island—remain firmly on the warm side of the pattern. Rain is the dominant outcome in these areas, with the primary impacts being reduced visibility, slick roads, and slowdowns along US-1 and Route 4.
Thanksgiving week is one of Rhode Island’s busiest travel periods, with significant congestion expected on I-95, I-195, and Route 146. Even cold rain can slow traffic, and any mixed precipitation inland may create isolated slick spots.
Forecasters expect clearer details early next week as short-range models begin to resolve individual systems and pinpoint temperature profiles.
