Wind gusts expected Saturday afternoon. (Credit: NWS)
A major cold front will move through the Shore area Saturday, plunging the mercury 20 degrees in a span of just hours, prompting thunderstorms along the way.
After a sunny day with calm breezes Friday, Saturday will see unseasonably high temperatures, with a high reaching 65 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly. But there will be a chance of showers in the morning, with a much larger chance of rain and thunderstorms moving through after 4 p.m. A south wind will blow 15 to 25 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 45 m.p.h. Rainfall during the day will be minimal, except in the case of localized thunderstorms.
Temperatures will begin dropping rapidly Saturday afternoon, with the 65-degree high dropping to a 43-degree low at night. There will be a steady stream of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Saturday night into Sunday, lasting until 4 a.m. Some of the thunderstorms could be severe and produce damaging winds. There is a minimal (approximately 5 percent) chance of tornadic activity.
A wind advisory is in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday.
“Winds will abruptly shift northwest behind a cold front Saturday evening,” the advisory said. “Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.”
The NWS advisory urged homeowners to secure outdoor Christmas decorations, with gusts approaching 50 m.p.h. in some locations.
