Our flirting with record high temperatures should come to an end early this afternoon as a cold front sweeps across the city. The cold front is part of the same storm system that brought tornadoes and flooding to the midwest. Before the front arrives we will see one last run up toward a record (today's is 64 degrees set in 1937). By this evening, after the front has passed, it will cool to the upper-40s. While the storm won't bring us any tornadoes we will have off-and-on rain showers until it passes. There is also a high wind advisory in effect until 4 p.m. Winds will pick up to a steady 20-25 miles an hour with gusts to 40 mph. Watch out for discarded Christmas trees dancing along the streets like tumbleweeds!

When we say the cold front will cool us off we mean cool in a relative sense. The cooling will be from near-record-breaking warmth to merely much warmer than normal warmth. Highs Thursday and Friday will still be in the lower-50s. Gothamist is also assuming the -80 forecast for noon tomorrow in the Weather Service's graphical forecast is an error.

Another cold front wants to arrive late Thursday night. That will bring a few showers that will last through Friday morning. The weekend is looking sunny with highs in the mid-40s. More seasonable temperatures, along with a bit of snow, may return by Monday.

This morning's wind gust map from Weather.com.