Temperatures cruised into the 40s on Wednesday with the air of some rare December sunshine. A partly to mostly sunny sky will be overhead again on Thursday, and gusty southerly winds should develop. The result will be the mildest day in quite some time with readings in the mid 50s by around sunset. However, the warm air will not be here for long. A strong cold front is poised to swing through the region Thursday night, and rain showers look increasingly likely after about 7pm. Rain will be accompanied by wind gusts of 40-45 mph later Thursday evening; secure those Christmas decorations! 

Friday afternoon will feel about 40 degrees colder than Thursday. The air temperature will settle into the 20s, but the wind chill is expected to be in the single digits and lower teens during the second half of the day. Snow flurries and snow showers will be around at times, especially in the morning. The wind will finally calm down by Friday night. 

The final weekend before Christmas looks pretty uneventful. Saturday will be the milder of the two days; Sunday will be rather brisk and chilly. Clouds will win out during much of next week, including around Christmas.