Extreme cold weather hitting Gardner Thursday night
GARDNER ― The Greater Gardner area is expected to have below zero temperatures and low wind chills starting Thursday night, according to experts at the Boston/Norton National Weather Service station.
The forecast shows temperatures hitting a record low of -10°F caused by arctic winds coming from northern Canada. Boston/Norton NWS Meteorologist Kyle Peterson said the coldest Massachusetts communities are the ones neighboring the New Hampshire and Vermont borders.
On Saturday morning, there is a possibility that northern and central Mass. communities will experience temperatures that feel like -30°F and even -40°F, Peterson said.
The wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel while outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the combination of wind and cold, according to the National Weather Service.
Beginning Friday afternoon, the wind chill will make temperatures drop to what feels like -30°F and continue to stay below zero until Sunday morning where temperatures will start to rise.
After 48 hours of below freezing temperatures, temperatures will start to rise on Sunday morning, Peterson said.
Bill Simpson, spokesperson for the Boston NWS station, said Massachusetts has not experienced these kinds of hazardous winter weather in the past eight years and people should prepare to stay warm this weekend.
"Arctic air travels from the North Pole to Canada then to the United States about every eight to 10 years," he said. "It will shock people how cold it will get, but it's short lived.
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Two warming stations available in Gardner
Gardner has prepared two warming stations for anyone who needs a warm place to stay this weekend during the extreme cold weather, said Mayor Michael Nicholson. The Gardner Senior Center at 294 Pleasant St. is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. The Gardner Police Station opens at 6:45 a.m. on Friday and the station will be open overnight until Saturday at 7 a.m.
"We want to make sure that people have those options to stay as warm as they can because of weather predicting to go below zero," he said.
The Boston NWS advises people to stay indoors and if you need to go outside wear thick long layers and drive with caution. For more winter weather safety and preparedness information visit the NWS website at weather.gov.
Be prepared for power outages
In addition to low wind chill temperatures, strong northwest winds may cause power outages Friday afternoon and evening.
Nicholson said if any Gardner resident experiences a power outage they should contact National Grid immediately. Power outages can be reported through their website at nationalgridus.com, text the word OUT to 64743, or call their emergency number at 1-800-465-1212.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner prepares for below-zero cold snap this weekend
