An Arctic front is expected to hit the region bringing with it cold temperatures, high winds and snow, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton.
Thursday morning’s high temperature in the 20s is forecast to drop throughout the day to the mid-teens, according to Bill Simpson, a spokesperson with the weather service.
Winds will gradually increase with wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph in the afternoon bringing with it wind chills dropping near zero, Simpson said.
“One good thing – it’s a relatively short period,” he said.
The highest winds and lowest wind chills are expected in the evening and could hit 10 to 20 below zero in Western Massachusetts with some locations even colder, according to Simpson.
Moving into Friday, winds are expected to die down and temperatures are forecast in the mid-teens.
Snow is expected to arrive following the evening commute and could drop four to five inches in the Connecticut River Valley.
“Dress appropriately. We have a wind chill advisory out once you get below zero to minus 20,” Simpson said. “Hopefully people are dressing appropriately.”
Simpson also said people should prepare for possible power outages because of the high winds.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.