Mild weather is in store for Lawrence today. But colder temperatures, icy northerly winds and the season’s first dusting of snow are headed to the Lawrence area by early Wednesday morning.

“We’re going to be dealing with some winter-like weather during the next 48 hours,” Jennifer Schack, 6News meteorologist, said today. “There’s some chilly weather ahead.”

Latest forecast

This morning’s skies were cloudy, with temperatures in the low 40s. Skies were expected to become more clear by the afternoon, with the temperature reaching a high of 52, Schack said.

“It will be the mildest day by far this week,” Schack said. “Tomorrow is when things start to change.”

Overnight, the temperature will drop to 40 by early Tuesday morning, she said.

A cold blast coming out of Canada arrives in the area about 9 a.m. Tuesday, with clouds increasing and northwesterly winds reaching 15-20 mph, she said. Schack said the temperature will reach a high of only 47 Tuesday about the noon hour.

Scattered showers are expected Tuesday afternoon from the Lawrence area to the south, she said. The National Weather Service says there’s a 70 percent chance of rain on Tuesday.

Then a rain-snow mix is expected on late Tuesday night, changing over to snow flurries during Wednesday ‘s early morning hours, Schack said. The National Weather Service said the chance for precipitation Tuesday night is 80 percent, with northerly winds 20-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph.

“We’re not expecting any accumulating snow,” Schack said. Most of the snow will be falling in southern Kansas, which might get an inch or two of slushy snow, she said.

“We might see a dusting or a covering,” she said. Travelers in the Lawrence area might have to deal with some slick spots on the roadways, she said.

Wednesday’s morning low will be 30, with Wednesday’s high reaching only 39 under partly cloudy skies, she said. The National Weather Service says there’s a 40 percent chance of snow before noon, with northerly winds 15-20 mph, gusting to 35 mph.

Thursday’s morning low will be 22, with the high reaching 45 under partly sunny skies.