Colder weather on the way

A wave of chilled Canadian air should bring another round of possible freezing temperatures to Hernando County, though forecasters don't expect the bottom to drop out of the thermometer like it did in the last cold snap.

This week's second cold front, one with significantly colder air behind it, was expected to shuffle through Thursday and bring a probable freeze, at least to areas away from the coast.

The National Weather Service is calling for temperatures around Brooksville and inland areas to fall to around the freezing mark or slightly below on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Forecasts show temperatures near U.S. 19 could drop to around freezing Saturday morning but stay slightly warmer than inland.

Forecasters flip that for Sunday morning with temperatures expected to be colder at 29 degrees in Weeki Wachee than in Ridge Manor at 34.

Temperatures are expected to approach freezing just before dawn both weekend mornings.

Things should begin warming by the start of the work week, the weather service says.

Forecasters are a bit uncertain how cloudy it will be today and Saturday. More clouds would mean slightly cooler afternoons but also mornings that are slightly warmer.

Most of us will notice the change in the afternoons. The high today may not hit 60 after reaching the middle 70s on Thursday.

A mild chill should stay in place Saturday, with forecasts again showing high temperatures around 60 before Sunday brings slightly higher temperatures, though it should remain cooler than it was during the past few days.

The first cold front came through Wednesday, with some rain but little in the way of chilly air. The front did produce about 0.3 of an inch of rain at the airport in Brooksville and about a quarter-inch in Tampa.

The weather service expected the second, reinforcing front to arrive Thursday. That was the one with little rain anticipated but some stout, cold air that will begin drifting in today and Saturday.

The next cold front on the horizon is expected for Tuesday but is too distant for forecasters to tell how potent it will be. The weather service does expect it could produce some rain and even a few thunderstorms by Wednesday.