By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

It will feel like the dead of winter in central Alabama for the first few days this week before warmer, rainy weather moves into the area this weekend, according to the most recent weekly forecast from the National Weather Service Birmingham office at the Shelby County Airport.

After temperatures plummeted late on Sunday, March 3, Monday saw a high in the low 40s and Monday night called for a low of only 24 degrees.

The forecast for Tuesday is a similar story, with a high in the mid-40s and a clear, cold night with lows in the mid-20s.

Wednesday will be another clear day with a high of about 48 degrees and a low of 30 degrees.

On Thursday things will start to get a little warmer, as the high will approach 60 degrees with an overnight low of about 45 degrees. Rain will also enter the forecast on Thursday, with a 20-percent chance of showers.

The rain chances will rise to 50 percent on Friday, which will see a high of about 64 degrees and an overnight low of about 53 degrees.

Saturday will see a high of about 69 degrees and a 70-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, and Sunday will see a 50-percent chance of showers, and will be partly sunny with a high of about 70 degrees.