N.E. Fishermen Warned of Extreme Cold, Wind Chills

The Coast Guard is urging the Massachusetts and Rhode Island fishing fleet to take caution heading into the weekend when life threatening temperatures and wind chills are forecasted.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for 4 p.m. Saturday until noon Sunday for our area. The wind chill temperatures are expected to be 20 to 30 degrees below zero. These wind chill temperatures can result in frostbite in as little as ten minutes.

“Heavy freezing spray Saturday afternoon into Sunday may result in dangerous conditions for any vessel in the near-shore waters off Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said Lt. John Mansolillo, a command duty officer in the First Coast Guard District’s command center.

The National Weather Service is advising outdoor exposure be limited.

The threat of heavy freezing spray is expected to lessen with increasing distance from the coastline as water temperatures are warmer offshore.