Wind Chill Advisory Issued For Smithfield

If there's nothing pressing on your social calendar tonight, officials advise staying inside — a Wind Chill Advisory for Smithfield warns temperatures may feel as cold as 18 degrees below zero.

The National Weather Service issued the advisory for RI as well as locations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, in effect from 7 p.m. tonight through 10 a.m. on Friday.

This evening's single digit air temperature, combined with northwest winds of 10 - 15 mph and gusts of 35 mph will result in dangerously cold wind chill values that are expected to dip down as low as 18 degrees below 0, according to the advisory.

Officials urge extreme caution for anyone who needs to travel tonight. The threat of frostbite or hypothermia will be heightened with these conditions in effect. People should also check in on senior citizens and those who may need assistance during the evening and morning, according to a release sent this afternoon from Smithfield's EMA.

In the event of a power outage, Todd Manni at the EMA said a warming center will be set up to assist residents, either at Smithfield High School or the Smithfield Senior Center, depending on the number of people requiring assistance. 

Manni said the EMA will coordinate with National Grid to keep apprised of power outages.