Suffolk County

Boston city officials declare cold emergency ahead of frigid weekend

BOSTON — City officials announced on Wednesday they’ve declared a cold emergency ahead of a dangerous winter blast that could rock the Bay State this upcoming weekend.

Mayor Michelle Wu says the emergency will last from Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 5 and that Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) locations across the city will be activated as warming centers. A full list of locations and their hours can be found here.

Boston is expected to experience wind chills well below zero over the weekend.

“I urge all Boston residents to take precautions, stay warm and safe, and check on your neighbors during this cold emergency,” Mayor Wu said in a statement. “Boston is moving quickly to ensure that everyone is protected from the intense cold weather that will start Friday and last through the weekend. I want to thank the many city teams who have already begun preparations and will be responding to this weekend’s brutal cold weather.”

The wind chill on Friday is predicted to be as low as -21 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as -27 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, according to city forecasts.

Key safety tips for this bitter blast of weather include:

  • Dressing appropriately for the weather. Wear several layers of clothes and make sure children are dressed warmly.
  • Watch for signs of frostbite, which include loss of feeling and white or pale appearances in the extremities such as fingers, toes, and earlobes.
  • Watch for signs of hypothermia, which include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech and drowsiness.

For more information on the upcoming winter weather emergency, click here.

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