Boston Area News

BOSTON (WBZ) ― As the mercury begins to head toward the freezing mark, officials are urging anyone who has to head out Thursday to bundle up and stay safe and warm.

Starting Thursday, conditions are expected to be bitter cold.

WBZ Meteorologist Barry Burbank says the good news is they won't last very long. Temperatures for Thursday are expected to be in the teens and the wind chill will be in the single digits. Friday will be slightly warmer, but the morning temperatures are expected to be in the single digits.

Barry says it could be as cold as -11 degrees with the wind chill on Thursday in Boston. The bitter cold temperatures will also bring some ocean effect snow to the Cape. The good news is it'll only be about a dusting to an inch of snow.

Barry says the cold spell is something the entire East Coast is dealing with. It was only 32 degrees in Orlando, Florida on Thursday morning.

Barry says you have to go back to February 27 of 2007 to find temperatures this cold in Boston. That day it was a whopping 7 degrees in the city.

Just before 5 a.m., Worcester Regional Airport had a temperature reading of 1 degree above zero, with a wind chill index of 17 below zero.
  
 A wind chill advisory is issued when the combination of cold air and strong winds create conditions that can result in frostbite and hypothermia.

Hats, gloves and several layers of clothing are the order of the day for children waiting for the school bus and anyone else venturing outdoors.

The bright side Barry says is that this weekend temperatures will get into the 40's and then the 50's on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

In anticipation of the cold weather, Boston Mayor Tom Menino is urging city residents to check on their elderly or disabled neighbors and be careful when using heating equipment, such as space heaters. "Winter is here and Boston will be experiencing bitterly cold weather. Boston residents need to take precautions to protect themselves against such cold weather," Menino said. "As a city, we must work together to ensure the safety of all our residents."

Tenants should have their apartments heated to 68 degrees during the day and 64 degrees at night, according to Menino. There is a "No Heat" hotline number for tenants to call if their landlords are unwilling properly set temperatures in their apartment buildings. That number is 716.635.5300 or 617.635.4500 after hours.

According the mayor's office, inspectional services responded to 16 "no heat" calls over the weekend.

The homeless are also a concern during the cold winter months -- especially when temperatures begin to drop dangerously low. People are asked to call 911 when they spot a homeless person in danger from the extreme cold.

SAFETY TIPS FOR WINTER WEATHER:
Provided by the Boston Fire Department

• Never use your oven for heat
• Electric powered portable heaters should never be left on while sleeping and should be kept at least three feet away from combustible materials.
• Do not overload electrical sockets
• Never leave candles unattended
• CO2 detectors are now required in homes by law. They must be within 10 feet of sleeping areas.
• Working smoking detectors should be on each floor of your home, particularly near bedrooms.
• In case of a power outage, stock up on batteries, flashlights and canned goods

HEATING ASSISTANCE RESOURCES

ABCD (Action for Boston Community Development) - 617-357-6012

If you have a complaint about your oil dealer's service, call Mayor Menino's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing at 617-635-3834.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)