BOSTON -- Frigid temperatures are greeting many in the Bay State Wednesday morning as they awaken to record cold, which is affecting the region earlier than usual.

NewsCenter 5's Gail Huff reported that it was 25 degrees in Newton, but with no wind or snow. Tuesday night, downtown crowds were bundled in parkas, coats, gloves and hats. College students shivered as they waited for trolleys.

"I really hate the cold, so I can't wait to take a trip down to Florida," one woman said.

The thermometer hit 25 degrees overnight, the coldest it's been for the date since 1992 when the temperature hit 26 degrees. Some central Massachusetts towns were reporting temperatures in the teens, all the cold weather prompting the need for cold weather gear at the school bus stop. Officials are also advising motorists to make sure they have emergency supplies in their vehicles, including jumper cables, water, snacks, flares, extra clothing, antifreeze and spare fuses.

Some clouds will move into the region later in the day, resulting in partly sunny skies, but temperatures will remain unseasonably cold, with high temperatures in the upper 30s to low 40s. That's 10 to 15 degrees below normal for early November.

Wednesday night, temperatures will fall back into the 20s to near 30, but warmer in the cities.

Warmer weather is expected on Thursday, with temperatures climbing back up to mid-50s to 60 with partly sunny skies.

Another strong cold front will arrive Thursday night bringing rain to the region and colder air behind it with a chance of ran and freezing rain Friday morning in parts of western Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

The cold front will stall off the Atlantic coast Friday, which will bring more possibilities for rain, ice or snow to the interior.