December starts off bitterly cold in Connecticut.

Temperatures will be 5 to 15 degrees below historical averages at times this week in New England and other parts of the country as arctic air moves into the region, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.

“The coldest air of the season so far is expected to spread across the Northeast, with gusty winds, snow packs and snow squalls that could lead to hazardous travel conditions through midweek,” AccuWeather said in a news release today, Tuesday, Dec. 3 . For millions in the Northeast, it could be the coldest start to December in more than a decade, leading to increased demand for residential electricity and heating oil.

“This will be a cold week for millions of people across the Northeast,” AccuWeather chief on-air meteorologist Bernie Rayno added in a written statement. “This is a direct release of Arctic air.”

How cold will it be in Connecticut this week?

It will feel cold.

In Norwich, according to National Weather, Wednesday is forecast to have a high of 44 degrees and a low of 32 degrees, with Thursday having a high of 43 degrees and a low of 24 degrees and Friday having a high of 34 degrees and a low of 19 degrees Service.

How much snow will there be in Connecticut this week?

Snowfall is expected in Connecticut from Wednesday night through Thursday morning, with potential to accumulate particularly in the northwest part of the state.

According to AccuWeather, there could be one to two centimeters of snow in Norwich.

The bulk of the snow is expected to fall further north, in Massachusetts and northern New England.

Could wind be a problem this week?

The National Weather Service noted on its website that “winds will increase Wednesday evening…Gusts of 30 to 40 mph are possible Wednesday night through Thursday,” which could make already frigid temperatures feel even colder.

This article originally appeared in the Bulletin: CT Weather: How cold will it be? How much snow? See maps