It’s Colder In Massachusetts Right Now Than It Is In Antarctica

Believe it or not, Massachusetts has seen some Antarctic temps in recent weeks. This January has been the coldest on record for many parts of Massachusetts. Mean temperatures at the Antarctic base camp McMurdo Station range from minus 14.8 degrees to a positively balmy 26.6 degrees. That sounds pretty frigid at first read, but you might actually know what such bone-chillingly cold temps feel like.

Last week, the town of Chicopee experienced a low temperature of minus 21 degrees. Yes, you read that right – that’s many degrees colder than a typical day living on Antarctica.

And no, that’s not factoring in wind chill. Residents reported everything from frozen pipes to front doors sealed with ice.

On January 7, the temperature in Worcester was minus 9 degrees. This broke the previous low of minus 5 degrees that was set all the way back in 1942.

This means that the last time anyone in Worcester was this cold may have been in your parents' or grandparents' day. Let's hope you saved some of their warm woolens.

The National Weather Service also reported that the temperature in Boston was minus 2 degrees. It hadn’t been that cold in the capital city since 1896.

That's 122 years ago. Crazy. It was the coldest day in Boston that anyone alive has experienced.

An arctic airmass that traveled over the region is largely to blame for these freezing temperatures.

The piles of snow and frosty wind haven't helped much either.

Though temperatures look to be on the rise this week, it’s still pretty frigid. Experts (and your grandma) recommend bundling up in layers to cut the chill.

There have been fatalities related to the low temperatures, so if you see someone outside without adequate clothing or shelter, inform your local authorities. Shelters are ready and equipped to get people out of the cold until the danger passes.

Of course, winter in Massachusetts is pretty much always brutal. Here are 11 things that no one tells you about surviving the cold season in the Bay State.

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