Record lows set on Friday, Saturday as bitter cold blankets region
Dangerous wind chills made cold even more brutal
Dangerous wind chills made cold even more brutal
Dangerous wind chills made cold even more brutal
Cold air that is settled over New England has broken low-temperature records in Massachusetts and gusty winds are making it feel even colder.
The cities of Boston and Worcester set record-low temperatures for Feb. 3 (Friday) and Feb. 4 (Saturday).
Boston reached -8 degrees Fahrenheit late Friday night, besting the previous Feb. 3 record of -5 degrees that was set in 1881. The temperature in the city then dipped to -10 degrees early Saturday morning, smashing the previous Feb. 4 record of -2 that was set in 1886.
Saturday's low temperature in Boston of -10 is also the city's first double-digit negative temperature since it was -12 degrees on Jan. 15, 1957, according to the National Weather Service.
In Worcester, the temperature hit a low of -10 degrees late Friday night, topping the previous Feb. 3 record of -7 set in 1931. The mercury then dipped to -13 degrees early Saturday morning, well past the previous Feb. 4 record of -4 that was set in 1934.
The NWS also said Nantucket reached a low temperature of -3 degrees, which tied the all-time record low for the Massachusetts island that was initially set on Dec. 31, 1962 and was reached again on Jan. 16, 2004.
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Wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph led to wind chills between -30 and -40 degrees in Massachusetts.
The strong winds also brought down trees, limbs and power lines in some areas. Check here for latest power outage information.
The wind chills will be less harsh Saturday afternoon, but conditions will improve dramatically Sunday afternoon with warmer temperatures. Some parts of southeastern Massachusetts have a chance to reach a high of 50 degrees on Sunday.
StormTeam 5's 8-to-14-day outlook has Massachusetts seeing warmer-than-average temperatures.
On Wednesday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a cold emergency in the city from Friday through Sunday. The mayor said there will be an increased risk for hypothermia and frostbite for certain populations, such as those experiencing homelessness, older individuals and young children. The brutally cold weather may also exacerbate health issues in high-risk populations.
Because of the forecast, Boston Public Schools and several other districts in the region were closed on Friday.
"I urge all Boston residents to take precautions, stay warm and safe, and check on your neighbors during this cold emergency," Wu said in a statement.
The Boston Centers for Youth and Families will activate warming centers at community centers on Friday and Saturday during their normal operating hours. Click here for a full list of locations and hours.
City residents can also visit the Boston Public Library Central and other branch locations during their normal operating hours. The Southampton Street Shelter for men over 18 years of age and Woods Mullen Shelter for women over 18 years of age are open 24/7. Amnesty is in effect and anyone with a nonviolent restriction may come in. The Pine Street Inn’s mobile outreach vehicles will also be out on the street with extended hours.
South Station is another place in Boston that will remain open during the overnight hours when the arctic blast hits Massachusetts.
"This cold is incredibly dangerous. I cannot say it enough," Dr. Denise De Las Nueces, chief medical officer for the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, said. "Even exposure for as little as a minute is enough, in these frigid temperatures, to begin to develop frostbite."