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Dangerously Cold Temps Hit Maryland Hard

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- With plummeting temperatures and unbearable winds, Mother Nature continues to blanket Baltimore.

"It's bad. Don't get me wrong," one woman told WJZ.

An Arctic blast barrelling across the United States is now hitting Maryland hard.

"Lord... Why is it so cold?" another woman said.

RELATED: Winter Storm Watch For Parts Of Md. Friday/Saturday

In downtown Baltimore Thursday, there was a common theme -- everyone was bundled up, from head to toe.

The ice rink at the Inner Harbor that normally is packed sat empty.

The Department of Public Works has already seen an uptick in water main breaks, as crews battle the frigid temperatures.

"It's cold work. I mean, that is really cold work when you have to get down into a hole and do this," said Kurt Kocher, with the Department of Public Works.

AAA Mid-Atlantic says they came to the aid of nearly 1,200 drivers across Maryland on Thursday -- from dead batteries to tows.

"This is our first really cold day of the year, and the call volume has picked up," a tow truck driver with AAA said.

Doctor Michael Zimring with Mercy Medical Center says these are conditions our bodies will not react well to without hats on.

"Eighty to 90 percent or more of the heat in your body is lost through your head," Dr. Zimring said.

The extreme cold can even be lethal.

"It is a big deal... staying out of the cold. You could die -- very simply," Dr. Zimring said.

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