BITTER COLD WILL PLUNGE INTO THE AREA FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK

The upcoming seven days will be remembered for its extreme temperature swings; on Sunday, much of the region will see temps in the upper 50s and lower 60s, but by Monday, the mercury will settle back into the 30s.

A fast moving storm with limited moisture will scurry through the region on Tuesday night, offering the shot at an accumulating, light snowfall. More importantly, this system will represent the beginning of a very sharp downturn in our temps by Wednesday. After highs near 30 on Tuesday, blustery conditions are likely, with readings only into the low 20s on Wednesday; single-digits and teens  will be common at night Wednesday night.

Thursday should be the coldest day. Temps will remain steady near 20,  as a sprawling arctic air mass tightens its grip over much of the mid-west and eastern states, as far south as the Northern Gulf Coast!

NOAA: Forecasted Highs Thursday 1/8/15

Intellicast.com

By Friday, our temps will start to recover somewhat, but they will still remain well-below average through at least Saturday.

WARMING UP WITH RAIN BY LATE THIS WEEKEND...

1. After a cold New Years' Day, temps will run closer to 40 for both Friday and Saturday.

2. Rain should break out Saturday evening and continue for much of Sunday before ending Sunday afternoon. Temps overnight Saturday night into Sunday will spike into the 50s for most places near the coast, with 40s further inland.

3. Renewed cold shot of air comes in by Monday, with an even sharper plummet in temps by mid-week; potential is there for temps not to rise above 20 during the day either wednesday or thursday.

7online.com/weather

4. Significant wintry precip will remain elusive during the next week or so. Storm systems continue to either move to our west (which draws in warmer air just like this upcoming weekend) or they move too fast by way of an active northern Pacific jet stream.