Providence, RI – A sharp November chill grips southern New England as patchy fog settles into low valleys and a thin film of black ice clings to bridges and back roads. Headlights skim across frosted pavement near dawn, revealing slick, almost invisible hazards just as Thanksgiving travel ramps up across Rhode Island. Drivers should reduce speeds on I-95, Route 10, and overpasses where cold air pools first.
According to the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office, the Special Weather Statement issued before sunrise highlights “patchy fog and isolated black ice” persisting through the early morning. Temperatures hover near freezing across Providence County, allowing a few slick spots to form on elevated surfaces. The agency urges caution for the morning commute and recommends extra braking distance while the fog slowly lifts.
According to meteorologists, skies turn brighter later today with highs near the upper 40s. A weak southwest breeze keeps conditions dry into Saturday, followed by a crisp and mostly sunny Sunday. The weekend offers a clean travel window for Rhode Islanders preparing for Thanksgiving gatherings, decorating, or early shopping runs. Still, colder pockets late at night hint at the season’s earliest “Winter Tease,” aligning with a broader national pattern rapidly cooling next week.
National outlooks show a stronger surge of cold spreading from the northern Plains toward the East Coast by midweek. Several states farther north may see heavy snow potential—anywhere from 3 to 15 inches—between November 25 and December 3. While Providence itself stays rain-favored, the long-range pattern supports expanding travel delays across interstate corridors nationwide, a key concern as Thanksgiving approaches.
For now, Rhode Island enjoys a mostly quiet stretch, but residents should track early-week clouds and a likely return to rain Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the holiday.
Five-Day Forecast for Providence, RI:
Fri: 49/40 – Increasing clouds; early black ice risk; fog lifting.
Sat: 49/29 – Mostly sunny; calm winds; smooth travel.
Sun: 49/35 – Mostly sunny; cool and pleasant.
Mon: 49/33 – Sunny; light winds; seasonal chill.
Tue: 51/48 – Rain likely late; breezy; early holiday travel impacts.
