A day of wind-swept rain will usher in crashing temperatures and the coldest air in the past six months as the weather roller coaster dips and twists across Massachusetts late this week.
After a seasonably cool and pleasant day on Thursday, things will turn nasty for parts of Friday with downpours at times, and wind gusts out of the south and southwest up to 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Saturday will bring drier and much cooler weather with highs struggling to get out of the 40s across most of Massachusetts with a brisk northwest wind up to 35 mph.
The forecast low in Boston on Saturday night is 36 degrees, according to AccuWeather. But it will be much colder in some of the suburbs as winds calm overnight, with some of the first wind chills of the season reaching the 20s.
Those who have yet to experience a freeze are advised to take in plants and vulnerable vegetation. Areas of northern New England may experience a brief blast of snow at the tail end of the Friday night storm.
"This weekend will bring a noticeable reminder that winter is getting closer," said AccuWeather expert meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. "For many communities, we're entering the time of year when the first freeze typically occurs. ...
"Anyone heading outside this weekend will want to dress for colder, blustery conditions."
While it is just the beginning of the colder air in the long term, in the short term temperatures will moderate with highs in the upper 50s on Sunday and into the low to mid 60s early next week.
See Latest Forecast (NWS):
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 63. North wind 5 to 13 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
Thursday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. South wind 3 to 7 mph.
Friday
Showers, mainly before 3 p.m. Patchy fog between 10 a.m. and 2pm. High near 69. South wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 50. Southwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Northwest wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 42. South wind around 7 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 60. South wind 7 to 11 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. West wind 7 to 9 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. North wind around 7 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. North wind 3 to 5 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
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