PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Providence set a record for cold Thursday, and it won't get much warmer on this Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The high temperature reached just 14 degrees on Thursday, which set a new record for the lowest maximum temperature for the date, according to the Weather Service. The previous record was 21 degrees in 1976. Boston, Worcester and Hartford also set records for low maximum temperatures.
The high temperature for Providence on this Friday should reach 17 degrees under partly sunny skies, the Weather Service says. Despite the cold forecast, Providence is unlikely to set another record for coldest maximum temperature today. The existing mark is 8 degrees set in 1917.
The temperature was 6 degrees in Providence shortly before 7 a.m., and felt like 6 below zero because of a 7 mph northwest wind.
The National Weather Service is advising residents of Southern New England to take precautions.
"Wind chill indices...or the combination of wind and temperature...were in the zero to 10 below zero range this morning across most of southern New England," the Weather Service said in a special weather statement. "They are expected to persist into the afternoon. These were not quite cold enough for a formal advisory. Nevertheless, these are bitterly cold values and everyone needs to take appropriate precautions when venturing outdoors to avoid frostbite and hypothermia."
The temperature tonight will drop back down to about 7 degrees and the wind will blow from the northwest at 7 to 9 mph.
Saturday will warm into the low 20s but will probably also bring snow, the Weather Service says. Expect a high of 21 degrees and increasing clouds. Snow is likely for Providence mainly between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The chance of snow is 60 percent with accumulation of 1 to 2 inches.
"Another arctic blast" moves into the region Sunday through early next week, the Weather Service says.
Sunday's high in Providence should reach just 16 degrees despite sunny skies.
Monday also looks sunny with a high of just 12.
For more weather and updates, see providencejournal.com/weather.