After rising to near the freezing mark on Tuesday, temperatures will continue trending upward Wednesday and Thursday. Highs Wednesday will be in the lower 40s with more clouds than sun during the afternoon. A brighter day is expected to unfold on Thursday, and that will allow temperatures to reach the lower 50s. 

Meanwhile, a strong cold front will cross the Great Lakes region during the day Thursday. That front is likely to bring some rain showers to eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania by Thursday evening. Gusty winds can accompany the rain showers and there might even be a rare December rumble of thunder. As colder air arrives late at night, some snowflakes can be seen across the region. 

Temperatures will settle into the 20s Friday and wind chill values will be no higher than the teens during the second half of the day. The sharply colder air mass will not stick around for long; the final weekend before Christmas will be quiet and not as harsh.