RI Weather: Bitterly Cold Temperatures Settle Into The Region

Extremely cold temperatures are moving into southern New England in the coming days, bringing wind chills well below zero. As we head into the weekend, Rhode Islanders should plan to spend as little time outside as possible.

Early Friday morning, feel-like temperatures are expected to fall into the negative teens across much of the state, with high temperatures during the day only expected to reach 20 degrees.

The bitterly cold temperatures will hang around throughout the weekend, with snow possibly heading into next week.

Related: Frigid Temperatures: Warming Centers In Rhode Island

To help prevent hypothermia and other cold-borne emergencies, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention recommends dressing in layers and limiting time outdoors, covering extremities and the face as much as possible. Older adults, small children and those who spend long periods of time outside are most at risk for hypothermia or frostbite.

The latest Rhode Island forecast from the National Weather Service is below.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 20. Wind chill values as low as -11. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -5. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 23. Wind chill values as low as -7. Northwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 7. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 28. Light and variable wind.

Sunday Night
A chance of snow after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Calm wind becoming northeast 5 to 8 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Monday
Snow likely before 1 p.m., then snow likely, possibly mixed with rain between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., then snow likely after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 34. Northeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Monday Night
Rain likely, possibly mixed with snow, becoming all snow after 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 30. Northeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Tuesday
Rain and snow likely before 4 p.m., then a chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a north wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Tuesday Night
A chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 27. North wind 11 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.