Gloucester and Mathews residents have been bundling up and making extra preparations to keep their pipes from freezing and heat in working order thanks to a cold snap that has brought below-normal temperatures to the region since Sunday.

If frigid temperatures were not enough to keep residents on edge, the National Weather Service in Wakefield issued a Winter Storm Warning for both Gloucester and Mathews beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday continuing until 1 p.m. today. The NWS predicted four to seven inches of snow to fall overnight Wednesday, and anticipated difficult travel conditions for today, as high winds and blowing snow were in the forecast.

By tonight, temperatures are expected to fall into the single digits with wind chill values as low as minus 8 degrees. Temperatures aren’t expected to get above freezing until Sunday, with a high of 33 forecasted.

The cold snap impacted students in Mathews when they returned to school Tuesday morning after their winter break. Accordin...