Boston shatters 116-year cold weather record

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November 12, 2017

Temperatures in Boston hit 23 degrees Saturday morning, making it the coldest Nov., 11 since 1901, according to the National Weather Service.

Commuters waited for buses in the early-morning cold at Bellingham Square in Chelsea on Saturday. – Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

November 12, 2017

Temperatures in Boston hit 23 degrees Saturday morning, making it the coldest Nov., 11 since 1901, according to the National Weather Service.

Commuters waited for buses in the early-morning cold at Bellingham Square in Chelsea on Saturday. – Dina Rudick/Globe Staff

“We hit 23 [degrees] this morning. The last time it got so cold was in 1901 when it was 24 [degrees],” said Bill Simpson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

The cause of these record breaking temperatures is an arctic system that settled over much of New England early Saturday morning, said Simpson.

“These systems are pretty rare, but when you’ve got a large air mass coming down directly from the North Pole, we end up with classic mid-January weather,” Simpson said.

He added that the normal high for this time of year is a 53 degrees, a full 18 degrees warmer than Saturday’s high of 35.

The arctic system will linger throughout the week and temperatures will gradually increase as it dissipates, according to Simpson.

“It’s going to be cold again tomorrow. It might not be record-breaking, but it could come close and people should expect to have below average temperatures for the foreseeable future,” Simpson said.

Sunday is expected to be sunny and slightly warmer with a high of 43 degrees, according to forecasters.

The warming trend will continue into Monday when temperatures are expected to reach 46 degrees. There also is a chance of showers after 11 a.m., but forecasters believe not more than one-tenth of an inch is expected to fall.

Temperatures will remain consistent through Tuesday and Wednesday as both have a high of 46 degrees with a high of 46 degrees. There is a slight chance of showers between midnight and 4 a.m. on Wednesday, although less than one-tenth of an inch of rain is expected to fall.

Thursday and Friday are expected to be sunny and somewhat warmer with a high of 50 degrees, although that still falls below the average temperature of 53 degrees for this time of year.


Courtesy/Source: Boston Globe