Parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut could soon experience wind chills as cold as -20 with possible storm lurking

In the coming days it could get dangerously cold in southern New England.

According to the National Weather Service, an arctic air mass brings cold temperatures and wind chills near zero tonight and again Tuesday night.

Temperatures warm Wednesday through Friday before another arctic air mass arrives.

There is increasing confidence in an arctic outbreak beginning Friday night with dangerous cold and wind chills, while low confidence remains in a late-weekend coastal storm.

While still several days away, confidence continues to increase in a significant Arctic outbreak impacting southern New England beginning late Friday night and persisting through next weekend. A lobe of the Polar Vortex is forecast to break off and drive much colder air into the region. This cold air mass does not appear to be short-lived, with the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) highlighting much of the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes under a moderate risk for much below normal temperatures into the middle of next week.

For the upcoming weekend, overnight low temperatures and wind chills may fall to around -20F in the higher terrain and -10F across the coastal plain. Raising the potential for Cold Weather Advisories.

Those with outdoor plans this weekend should continue to monitor the forecast closely. Given these conditions, mariners should be prepared for a high likelihood of freezing spray, though the extent and severity remain uncertain at this time.

In addition, there are indications of a potential coastal system late next weekend. While some guidance suggest a system may pass offshore Sunday into Sunday night, confidence remains low.