Frigid Weather Returns To RI Ahead Of MLK Day Storm

RHODE ISLAND — Plummeting temperatures combined with gusty winds will bring dangerously cold weather to Rhode Island to start the holiday weekend. If that's not enough, the National Weather Service is closely monitoring a powerful storm expected to hit the region on Monday.

Wind gusts are expected to be strong across the state Friday afternoon and evening, with the most powerful gusts along the coast. Block Island will see the highest gusts, up to 60 mph. A light coating of snow if also possible across parts of the state during the afternoon, but don't expect and real accumulation.

The wind combined with dropping temperatures will drop feel-like temperatures into the negative teens in several parts of the state to start off Saturday morning.

"We can't emphasize enough that it will be very windy this afternoon and early evening," NWS said.

After a weekend of frigid temperatures, Rhode Island is in for a winter storm for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The brunt of the storm will be overnight Sunday into Monday morning, when some snow, but mostly a wintry mix of ice and rain, will fall across the much of the state. Higher snow totals will be farther west.