RI Weather: Frigid Weather Returns, Winter Storm Incoming

RHODE ISLAND — Another round of snow, high wind gusts and frigid weather is coming to Rhode Island this weekend.

Below-zero wind chills as low as the negative teens will return Friday, with wind gusts as high as 50 mph in some parts of the state. That brings the possibility for power outages, a major safety concern with temperatures so dangerously low.

There's also the possibility of snow during the day Friday, though Rhode Island isn't expected to see more than a coating.

"After a mild and quiet few days ... we are expecting several winter weather hazards to impact southern New England [Friday into Saturday] including snow, damaging winds, a potential flash freeze for eastern MA, and dangerous wind chills Friday night," the National Weather Service said.

The cold temperatures will continue into Saturday, with highs only expected to peak in the high teens. A slight warm up will follow on Sunday, though don't expect anything above freezing — the expected high is only 30 degrees.

The biggest concern will come Sunday night, when forecasters expect a "significant storm" to hit the region. It's hard to tell too much about the forecast this far out, but the NWS said there is a "significant risk" for rain or snow in interior areas and strong winds with high seas along the coast.

Here's a look at the latest Rhode Island forecast from the National Weather Service.

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph after midnight.

Friday
A chance of snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of snow after 2 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a north wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 5. Wind chill values as low as negative 13. Blustery, with a northwest wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 18. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 30. North wind around 6 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Sunday Night
A chance of snow between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. East wind 5 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Martin Luther King Day
Rain likely, mainly before 4 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. East wind around 15 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Monday Night
A chance of rain before 8 p.m., then a chance of snow between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Patch editor Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.