Last modified: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 12:13 AM EST T.J. Stewart, left, and Ed Salguero of the T. Stewart construction firm work outdoors at Briggs Nursery in North Attleboro on Monday. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin) Feeling the chill BY MICHAEL GELBWASSER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF Brutal cold and biting wind Monday had people crying for spring - and roadside help. Dead batteries and frozen locks helped generate a 25 to 35 percent spike in towing calls for Achin's Garage in North Attleboro Attleboro was 12 degrees at 5:30 a.m., and 16 degrees at 9 a.m., the Attleboro Water Department reported. The city got as warm (relatively speaking) as 27 degrees at 3:30 p.m. "When the weather drops below freezing, it usually happens," an Achin's employee said. "33 (degrees) is usually the magic number." The wind made the cold much more unbearable. The National Weather Service in Taunton reported a wind chill of 0 to 5 below in Taunton around 5 a.m., meteorologist Alan Dunham said. A 45 mph gust was reported at Taunton Municipal Airport at 11 a.m., he said. AAA Southern New England handled about 900 roadside calls an hour Monday morning, Government Affairs Director Arthur Kinsman said. Frozen doors and locks were common issues. "I think people maybe had their car parked all weekend and hadn't moved it," Kinsman said. "Definitely a busy, above average day for us." After another frigid overnight, with the temperature that was expected to show a low of 14 degrees but feel like 0, it will warm up today, with a high of 34 degrees, AccuWeather said. The forecast, however, calls for up to an inch of snow in the afternoon, followed by 1 to 3 inches of snow tonight, which should see a low of 26, AccuWeather said. Snow mixing with rain but little accumulation is expected Wednesday, with the night feeling like 10 degrees with the wind. MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.