Massachusetts Weather Forecast: Arctic Plunge Means 25 Degrees Below Zero This Week

Massachusetts on Monday morning saw potentially a good amount of snow turn into a wintry mix of rain because the temperature couldn't stay below freezing for long enough. Well, that won't be a problem at the end of the week.

Forecasters are warning of dangerously high winds and potentially record-low temperatures this Thursday into Friday. Wind chills could drop as low as 25 degrees below zero thanks to single-digit temperatures and 40-50 miles per hour wind gusts.

"A bitterly cold Arctic high-pressure system will be moving into our area Thursday night into Friday," NECN meteorologist Aaron Perry told Patch. "Single-digit lows will occur Thursday night into Friday morning, with highs on Friday only reaching into the teens."

Perry said he expects record lows to be challenged overnight Thursday.

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The National Weather Service also warned of what would feel like sub-zero temperatures.

"An arctic front will cross the region Thursday behind which temperatures will plummet as northwest winds possibly gust as high as 40 to 50 mph, especially Thursday night into Friday morning," the National Weather Service wrote on Twitter. "This will result in the potential for bitterly cold wind chills of 15 to 25 below zero for the same time frame."

WBZ's Eric Fisher said Tuesday afternoon winds could get as high as 60 miles per hour.

The temperature itself looks like it'll be bottoming out near 5 degrees, but those powerful gusts will make it feel even more unbearably cold.

Preliminary forecasts show things warming up over the course of the weekend, meaning we'll be looking mostly at rain again instead of snow.

The quick and brutal temperature drop could make pipes susceptible to freezing. Here are some suggestions from the American Red Cross, Popular Mechanics and American Home Shield:

• Check the insulation of pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and the attic, because they’re the most susceptible when temperatures plummet.
• Wrap pipes in heat tape or thermostatically controlled heat cables, but be sure they’re approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
• Use caulk or insulation to seal leaks that allow cold air to flow inside near plumbing pipes. Pay particular attention to leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and the pipes themselves.
• Disconnect hoses from each spigot on the outside of your house. Drain and store them.
• Use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This will reduce the chance the short span of pipe just inside the house will freeze.
• In extreme cold, you may be able prevent your pipes from freezing by allowing a trickle of warm water to drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall.
• Leave your thermostat at the same temperature, day and night. Your routine may be to turn the heat down when you go to bed, but when the temperature plummets, which often occurs overnight, your pipes could freeze. Better to have a higher heating bill than costly repairs necessary when pipes freeze and burst.
• Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
• Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
• If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Another idea is to turn off the main water valve before you leave home, even if you’re going to be gone only for a weekend.

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