A strong cold front will blast through West Central Texas Wednesday night and early Thursday resulting in a significant cool down for Thanksgiving. Following several days with high temperatures in the 70s to near 80 degrees, this front will seem especially cold with forecast temperatures on the order of 35 degrees colder by Thanksgiving afternoon. High temperatures on Thursday are forecast to remain in the mid 40s across the Big Country, in the lower to mid 50s across the Concho Valley, and in upper 50s to near 60 along the interstate 10 corridor.

In addition to these much colder temperatures, north winds of 15 to 25 mph will result in wind chill values ranging from 30 to 35 degrees by mid afternoon across much of the area. A few locations have not experienced a hard freeze yet this fall

, but all areas are expected to see temperatures fall into the low to mid 20s by Friday morning with a few lower readings in low lying river valleys. This freeze will harm or kill any sensitive vegetation that is left unprotected.

Rain showers will be possible ahead of the cold front Wednesday night. Generally across the Heartland and northwest Hill Country, a few showers may linger through early afternoon on Thursday across the northwest hill country; however, rainfall amounts are expected to remain light.