Arctic air will follow the snow showers ending Thursday evening in Southern New England. It will become windy and turn very cold after midnight. Lows will be in the single digits inland and low teens near the coast, with wind chills 0 to -10 thanks to a 15-30 mph northwest wind. It will be mostly sunny, brisk and frigid on Friday. Highs will only be in the low teens, and the wind chill will hover near zero most of the day.
The wind will relax to 5-15 mph Friday night, but it will stay frigid with lows in the -5 to 5 range by dawn on Saturday. Clouds will increase Saturday ahead of a developing storm that will rapidly intensify Saturday night into Sunday. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch in RI and part of SE MA, and a Blizzard Watch for all of Eastern New England. Snow will develop during the afternoon, and it will become steady by nightfall. Highs will be in the mid to upper 20s.
Snow is likely in the evening, with 2-4″ accumulating my midnight. There is uncertainty about how steady the snow will be late at night and early Sunday because it is unclear exactly where the storm will form. There may be a lull in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts from late in the evening until around dawn. Again, this part of the forecast is uncertain, and you should check in frequently if you have plans to be out late Saturday night.
Sunday will be windy and snowy, especially in the morning. The worst weather in Southern New England will be along the Eastern Massachusetts coast where blizzard conditions are possible. Winds may gust over 60 mph, and snow could be heavy at times. 35-45 mph wind gusts are likely in RI and interior SE MA. The temperature will fall into the teens during the day on Sunday. Several inches of snow may accumulate Sunday, with the highest totals likely in Eastern Massachusetts. Snow will likely linger through most of the day ending late in the day in Rhode Island, and Sunday evening in Eastern Massachusetts. RI stands to see at least 6″ of snow, and more than a foot is possible along the Eastern Massachusetts coast.
It will be frigid Sunday night into Monday. Lows will be in the single digits. The weather looks quiet and cold Monday and Tuesday before yet another storm threatens Southern New England with more snow Tuesday night into Wednesday.