MA Weather: Wind Chill Plummets Into 20s, Teens Next 2 Days

A freeze watch has started to pop up as temperatures plummet below freezing over the next 48 hours. Temperatures late Wednesday night into Thursday morning - and again Thursday night into Friday morning - are expected to fall to the mid-to-low 30s, and the dreaded wind chill will make it feel like its in the low 20s for many.

The freeze watch is for much of Essex, Middlesex, and Norfolk counties. It will be in effect from late tonight into the morning. It'll do more than just kill vegetation - it'll mean you need to bundle up on your way to work.

"A sweeping cold front" is the culprit, the National Weather Service wrote Wednesday morning. It should rebound into the 50s by Friday.

Wind gusts into Thursday could be as strong as 45 miles per hour. There will be a wind advisory for the Cape & Islands, where the winds are expected to be the strongest. As always with strong gusts, isolated power outages are possible.

Boston-area Weather Forecast

Wednesday - Scattered showers, mainly after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 62. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday night - A slight chance of showers between 11pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

Thursday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 28. West wind 3 to 6 mph.

Friday - Sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Friday night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Saturday - A chance of showers between 11am and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Sunday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

NWS Boston images