Providence, RI – The Ocean State starts this week in a deep freeze, with crystal-clear skies and temperatures in the teens giving way to clouds and a midweek winter mix. By Wednesday morning, snow showers are expected to develop across central and southern Rhode Island before changing to rain as temperatures rise toward 40°F.
According to the National Weather Service, this developing system could make Wednesday morning and evening commutes slippery, especially along I-95, Route 146, and local backroads near Providence and Warwick. Any early accumulation will be light — less than an inch — but melting and refreezing on shaded surfaces may still create slick patches.
Winds from the southwest will pick up midweek, gusting near 30 mph as the storm moves out late Wednesday night. Behind the system, colder and drier air returns Thursday with highs in the mid-30s before dipping again into the 20s. Sunshine will dominate by Friday, though another cold front may bring flurries to northern New England this weekend as temperatures swing sharply once more.
Residents are encouraged to allow extra travel time and use caution on bridges and overpasses where ice forms first. Experts recommend clearing sidewalks early and watching for freezing drizzle during temperature drops Wednesday evening.
5-Day Outlook (Dec. 9–13)
- Tuesday: High 31°F, increasing clouds.
- Wednesday: High 48°F, snow-to-rain mix; gusts to 30 mph.
- Thursday: High 35°F, breezy and partly sunny.
- Friday: High 34°F, sunny and cold.
- Saturday: High 38°F, partly sunny; possible flurries north.
