Strong cold front expected Thursday night

AUSTIN (KXAN) - High temperatures in the 80s will be a thing of the past after a cold front blows through Thursday night.

• VIDEO: Daily forecast

Temperatures have been much above normal since last week, with highs in the middle- to upper 80s each afternoon, but Thursday will be the last warm day this week.

The front is moving southeast across Northwest Texas, headed for an early evening arrival in the Hill Country. The front should move into the Austin metro area Thursday night, then exit the KXAN viewing area before sunrise Friday.

Friday’s high temperatures will be recorded during the early morning hours, as temperatures will fall into the 50s behind the front, then likely remain steady during the day. Winds will become northerly at 15- to 25 mph, with some stronger gusts and may create wind chill readings in the 40s.

Skies will remain overcast behind the front, and some patchy light rain or drizzle will be possible as moist air remains above the shallow, colder air mass.

Friday night football games across Central Texas will be played in chilly conditions. Winds will remain breezy, keeping wind chill readings in the 40s or colder during most area games. There will be a continuing 20 percent chance of some patchy light rain during the evening.

Clouds should begin decreasing Saturday, allowing afternoon temperatures to climb back into the lower 60s -- after the morning lows in the 40s. Saturday night lows will again fall into the 40s in the Austin metro area, with some 30s possible in the Hill Country.

Sunday will begin chilly, but the weather should be quite nice Sunday afternoon. Temperatures will climb to the middle 60s, under mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies.

The warming trend will continue next week, with temperatures returning to the 70s Monday and remaining warm through the end of October.