Strong winds ushered cooler temperatures in to the Black Belt Thursday, but officials said the most dramatic drop in temperatures is likely to come over the weekend.

Matt Grantham, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in Birmingham, said a system expected to move through the region late this weekend, bringing cold temperatures to Selma and frozen precipitation to other portions of the state.

“There is a front coming through Sunday afternoon and Sunday night bringing some rain and much colder temperatures over night,” Grantham said. “Monday morning it will be in the 20’s and the high will be in the low 30’s Monday.”

Grantham said he expected the Selma area to see a small amount of rain Sunday, before the threat clears out of the area.

Areas north of Selma are expected to see more rain and Grantham said northern portions of the state could see some snowfall from the system on Sunday.

“I think it’s going to be well north of Selma,” Grantham said. “To see snow, you’d probably have to drive up to the Tennessee Valley, almost up to Huntsville.”

Grantham said that while wind chill readings could be in the single digits early Monday, the blast of wintery air would be short-lived.

“The warm-up will start on Wednesday, after a cold start to the day, the high will finally get into the 40’s,” Grantham said. “So, the coldest temperatures should linger in Selma for around 48 hours.”