PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND — Authorities are investigating after a man was found dead early Wednesday morning on a downtown Providence sidewalk as the region faced some of the most dangerous cold temperatures of the winter. Emergency crews responded just before dawn amid reports of a person lying unresponsive outside in freezing conditions.
Emergency Responders Discovered Man Unresponsive in Extreme Cold
Police say officers and medical personnel were dispatched to Washington Street shortly before 5 a.m. after concerns were raised about an individual exposed to the severe weather. When crews arrived, they found an adult male lying on the sidewalk with no signs of breathing and no visible trauma. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Rhode Island Office of the Medical Examiner will determine an official cause of death, though the extreme cold remains a significant factor under consideration.
Rhode Island Experiencing Some of Winter’s Coldest Temperatures
The death occurred as Rhode Island endures a stretch of bitterly cold weather gripping much of the Northeast. According to the National Weather Service in Boston, dry conditions will continue through the weekend, but dangerously low temperatures will persist. Wind chills are forecast to fall to 20 to 25 degrees below zero in some areas by Friday night.
Residents have been urged to limit outdoor activity, wear multiple layers, and check on vulnerable neighbors as the cold snap tightens its hold across the state.
State Opens Warming Centers as Cold Snap Deepens
In response to the dangerously low temperatures, warming centers have opened throughout Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency is maintaining an updated list of locations, and community organizations across the state are helping connect residents to available services.
Those needing assistance can also access shelter information through the 2-1-1 hotline operated by the United Way of Rhode Island, which directs callers to emergency resources and warming sites.
Officials Issue Urgent Warnings to Those Without Shelter
Officials are stressing the importance of seeking reliable heat and shelter immediately, noting that exposure to these extreme conditions can become life-threatening within minutes. As the bitter cold continues through the weekend, officials warn that the risk of additional cold-related injuries or deaths remains high.
For ongoing updates on extreme weather impacts across the U.S., follow coverage at WingsPNW.com.
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