Weather
Rhode Island Weather Alert: Providence Near 33° Oct 17-18
Providence, RI – According to the National Weather Service, showers are likely Friday before precipitation chances increase to 80% Friday night. The forecast covers Providence in Providence County, pa
By Grant Holloway · 2026-10-15T07:05:31.864Z
Providence, RI – A chilly autumn weekend is approaching Rhode Island's capital, where Friday's mild temperatures and widespread rain will give way to colder air, clearing skies and temperatures approaching freezing by early Sunday. Providence is expected to reach 69 degrees Friday before falling to approximately 33 degrees Saturday night. The 36 degree difference across the period marks a significant change for residents planning outdoor activities, weekend travel or fall gardening, particularly as gusty winds accompany the arrival of cooler conditions.
According to the National Weather Service, showers are likely Friday before precipitation chances increase to 80% Friday night. The forecast covers Providence in Providence County, part of the greater Providence metropolitan area, where colder temperatures are expected to settle in through the weekend.
Friday Rain and Gusty Winds Precede the Cooldown Thursday brings a relatively pleasant start, with sunny skies and a high near 62 degrees. North winds of 5 to 11 mph could gust as high as 24 mph before calmer conditions develop Thursday night. Temperatures are expected to fall near 45 degrees under mostly clear skies.
Friday brings a noticeable change as showers become likely, mainly before 3 p.m. Patchy fog is also possible, with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures reaching approximately 69 degrees. Southeast winds of 8 to 13 mph could produce gusts as high as 26 mph, creating unsettled conditions during the day.
The National Weather Service places Friday's precipitation probability at 60%, with rainfall totals between one tenth and one quarter inch possible. Rain becomes more likely Friday night, when the chance of precipitation increases to 80%.
Winds will shift from southwest to northwest after midnight, with gusts potentially reaching 21 mph as cooler air moves into the region.
Saturday Brings Cooler Temperatures and Improving Skies Saturday begins with a 30% chance of showers before 8 a.m., followed by partly sunny conditions and a high near 51 degrees. That represents an 18 degree decline from Friday's expected high, making the weekend feel noticeably colder than the preceding afternoon.
North winds of 11 to 13 mph could gust as high as 26 mph Saturday, adding to the chilly conditions. Residents attending outdoor events may want warmer clothing, especially during the morning and evening hours.
Travelers along Interstate 95, Interstate 195 and Route 146 could encounter wet pavement during Friday's rainfall and early Saturday showers. Patchy fog Friday may also affect visibility in some locations, although the supplied forecast does not establish any specific road closures or traffic disruptions.
The most significant temperature change arrives Saturday night, when mostly clear skies and north winds around 6 mph accompany a low near 33 degrees.
Sunday Morning Temperatures Approach Freezing Early Sunday could bring some of the coldest conditions of the weekend, with Providence temperatures forecast to fall just one degree above freezing. While the official point forecast does not explicitly predict frost, temperatures this close to 32 degrees may warrant attention from residents with sensitive outdoor plants.
Sunday afternoon offers a recovery, with sunny skies and temperatures reaching approximately 55 degrees. Northwest winds of 5 to 8 mph are expected, followed by mostly clear conditions and a nighttime low near 38 degrees.
The warming trend continues Monday, when temperatures could reach 61 degrees, followed by mostly sunny skies and a high near 64 Tuesday.
Residents should monitor updated forecasts as the weekend approaches, particularly for changes in overnight temperatures and any additional cold weather advisories.
Will the approaching near freezing temperatures change your weekend plans in Providence?
Five Day Weather Outlook Thursday 10/15: Sunny skies are expected with a high near 62 degrees and north winds of 5 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph. Thursday night turns mostly clear, with temperatures falling near 45 degrees.
Friday 10/16: Showers are likely, mainly before 3 p.m., with patchy fog and a high near 69 degrees. Rain chances reach 60% during the day and 80% Friday night, when temperatures fall near 44 degrees.
Saturday 10/17: A 30% chance of showers continues before 8 a.m., followed by partly sunny skies and a high near 51 degrees. North winds could gust to 26 mph before nighttime temperatures drop to approximately 33 degrees.
Sunday 10/18: Sunny skies return following a chilly morning, with temperatures recovering to approximately 55 degrees. Northwest winds of 5 to 8 mph are expected, followed by mostly clear skies and a nighttime low near 38 degrees.
Monday 10/19: Sunshine continues with a high near 61 degrees and northwest winds becoming southwesterly during the afternoon. Monday night turns partly cloudy, with temperatures falling to approximately 42 degrees.
Extended Weather Outlook: Oct. 20 21 Tuesday, Oct. 20, is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 64 degrees. Northwest winds of 3 to 7 mph are forecast, followed by partly cloudy skies and a nighttime low near 43 degrees.
Wednesday, Oct. 21, brings sunny skies and a high near 62 degrees, with northeast winds of 5 to 7 mph.