How cold will it be? Southeast: Late spring-like temps will end

There is no arctic cold approaching, but there will be a cold front that will be strong enough to knock down temperatures back to closer to average across the Southeast just in time to end the week and into the weekend.

Wednesday included, there are still two days ahead of us with temperatures unseasonably high across the entire Southeast. From Mississippi eastward, including much of Tennessee and Kentucky, temperatures Wednesday afternoon will be between 12 to 23 degrees above normal for this time of the year. These are values in the mid-60s to mid-70s, closer to the normal highs during April and May.

The cooler temperatures will follow the cold front. This is the same cold that is sparking severe storms across Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday. The cooler air is taking its time to move as it will take another impulse of cold air to finally push it and for it to arrive in the Southeast. Temperatures will go from 67 on Wednesday afternoon to 47 on Friday in Knoxville, Tenn.

Friday afternoon will be the coldest afternoon this week in Atlanta. Highs will struggle to reach the mid-50s, after almost reaching 70 degrees Wednesday afternoon. Saturday morning will be cold, with temperatures near the freezing point and the winds blowing from the northeast.

Washington DC will also experience a much-needed cooldown. The forecast high for Wednesday is 64 degrees. By Friday, highs will be in the mid-40s and the temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic will continue to drop as there will be cooler are lingering longer. The coldest afternoon will be on Sunday, with highs around 39 degrees before temperatures rebound early next week and stay closer to the average for February highs (rather than April’s highs).

South Florida will also receive cooler air. Highs this week have been closer to the average highs in April. After the cold front clears the Peninsula early Friday morning, the highs in the afternoon will be around 76 degrees on Friday and Saturday, with a nice crisp (chilly, under South Florida standards) Saturday morning (57 degrees).