A strong northwest wind is bringing a blast of Canadian winter into the Lawrence area today, pushing in thick clouds and creating wind chills around the 30-degree mark.

“It’s going to feel cold,” said Jennifer Schack, 6News meteorologist. “With winds gusting up to 30 mph, you might want to take a look at your Christmas decorations and make sure they’re tacked down all right.”

Latest forecast

At 8:45 a.m., Lawrence’s temperature was 39 under overcast skies, with 16 mph winds gusting up to 24 mph. The wind chill was making it feel like 28 degrees, Schack said.

“We don’t start to climb until this afternoon,” Schack said. She said today’s high would reach 43, as winds continue to be brisk at 20 to 25 mph, gusting to 30 mph.

The brisk winds die down tonight and cloud cover will move off to the east, she said. Lawrence’s temperature will drop to a low of 24 by early Saturday morning with high thin clouds.

Warmer weather is expected for Saturday, as winds switch to southwesterly and cloudy skies. Saturday’s high will climb to a high of 52, she said.

Sunday’s morning low will be 40. Sunday’s high will be 52, under partly cloudy skies.

But a strong arctic front will move in Sunday afternoon, bringing cooler temperatures to the city for the beginning of next week. Highs will be reaching into the 40s Monday through Wednesday, Schack.