WORCESTER — Normal weather is still several days away, but when it hits it is likely to feel like midsummer to many. Temperatures could rise nearly 50 degrees between this weekend and the middle of next week.
But on Friday, the fierce snowstorm's aftermath was the matter to contend. Road crews spent the day digging out from deep snow in much of Central Massachusetts, and schoolchildren throughout the region got a second day off.
Although no snow is predicted for the weekend, plummeting temperatures could be as challenging as the storm. The National Weather Service is projecting subzero temperatures with wind chills as low as minus 27 Saturday.
Matthew Belk, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said some communities in Central Massachusetts could see temperatures dip to -17 by early Sunday morning. The wind chill factor Sunday is expected to be as cold as Friday night's or worse.
The good news is that we will be getting back to normal temperatures (for this time of year). Normal for early January is a 32-degree high and 17 for a low. The weather that New England experienced from late December through the first week of January has been unusual.
"It will be above freezing Monday afternoon for portions of southern New England, but more likely on Tuesday in Worcester," Mr. Belk said.
Tuesday night through Wednesday the weather will again turn colder, but will again rise above freezing on Thursday. There is only a little snow in sight next week. There is a chance of snow Monday night and possibly later in the week, but those storms will not be close to the nearly 17 inches that fell on Worcester Thursday.
Worcester was blanketed by 16.8 inches of snow on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Millbury was hit with 16.5 inches; Sterling, 15.8; Fitchburg, 13.9; and Gardner, 10.
Public works crews continued snow-clearing operations in Worcester and other communities. A parking ban remained in effect in the city during cleanup operations.
Some communities have set up warming centers for residents who are cold due to lost power or failed heating systems this weekend. Leominster has a warming center set up at the First Church Unitarian Universalist, 15 West St., Leominster. A warming center has also been opened at the Salvation Army building at 739 Water St., Fitchburg. It will be open in the afternoons on Saturday and Sunday and monitored by volunteers and staff from the Salvation Army, Our Father's House and the Fitchburg Emergency Management Agency.
Frozen pipes could be a serious problem this weekend, but don't make a bad situation worse. Using a blow torch, kerosene or propane heater, or other open-flame devices puts the whole house at risk.
A blow torch can cause water in pipes to boil, possibly causing them to explode, according to the state Department of Fire Services. A better approach to prevent frozen pipes is to leave the water running and warm the frozen section of pipe with an electric heating pad or hair dryer or wrap it in hot towels. The water should be left running so that once it thaws some, the running water will help remove the rest of the ice.
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