Bitter cold was expected to tighten its grip on the region Thursday, the start — for some — of a four-day holiday weekend that should turn increasingly mild.

In southeastern Connecticut, morning temperatures in the upper teens to low 20s were anticipated, with wind chill values — factoring in the wind’s effect — in single digits, according to Gary Lessor, a meteorologist at Western Connecticut State University. Bright sunshine was supposed to accompany the freezing temperatures during the day before the mercury dipped even lower Thursday night into the 10 to 15 degree range, the wind chill near zero. 

Clear skies were in the forecast, too.

“If you just want to sit around and eat all day, it’s perfect weather,” said Lessor, who pronounced the conditions “abnormally cold” for Thanksgiving Day. “This is more like the middle of January.”

Lessor's forecast for Friday was sunny and not as cold, with temperatures climbing as high as 30 to 35 degrees. It could be warmer Saturday, when increasing cloudiness is expected to occasion rain Saturday night before ending early Sunday morning. Temperatures could get into the 45 to 50 degree range Sunday, when sun could break through in the afternoon.

There’s a chance of showers Monday, followed by the return of cold air Tuesday through next Friday, Lessor said.

Given the cold, which was expected to be more extreme in northern New England, the travel service AAA was reminding motorists to take special precautions.

“Breaking down in the extreme cold is not just an inconvenience, it’s an emergency,” Amy Parmenter, spokeswoman for AAA in Greater Hartford, said in a statement. “It is critical that all drivers plan accordingly to protect themselves and their passengers.”

AAA was expecting to receive hundreds of dead battery calls on Thanksgiving Day and throughout the weekend as people try to start vehicles that have been sitting idle in the cold, including air travelers returning to Bradley International Airport to retrieve vehicles left there.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday a year ago, AAA responded to almost 1,000 calls for dead batteries in Greater Hartford alone, Parmenter said.

AAA urged motorists to have their vehicles’ batteries checked by a mechanic before traveling, and dress appropriately in the event of a breakdown. It recommended that drivers pack an emergency kit containing a cellphone charger, snow brush/scraper, de-icer, kitty litter, a flashlight with fresh batteries, flares or a high visibility triangle, jumper cables, blankets, extra coats and gloves, water, snacks and extra medications.

Motorists also can save themselves some grief by making sure they have a full tank of gas before setting out.

Fortunately, gasoline prices, though higher in 2018 than they have been in years, have been falling steadily for more than a month, AAA reported.

On Wednesday, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas sold in Connecticut was $2.87, compared to $2.71 a year ago. In the New London-Norwich area, Wednesday’s average price was $2.91, up from $2.72 last year.

Maine and New Hampshire have the least expensive gas in New England, averaging $2.60 and $2.65, according to AAA.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com