By Dan Baker
Special to the LDN

The season’s coldest temperatures are expected this weekend after a strong cold front ushered rain and cooler weather into Troup County and a wide swath of the state.

The first round of rain fell Tuesday night, bringing an unofficial total of 2 inches to LaGrange by 9 a.m. Wednesday. Rain resumed mid-morning as temperatures hovered near 40 at LaGrange-Callaway Airport.

The National Weather Service reported light sleet mixed with rain Wednesday afternoon across much of the northern half of the state, including LaGrange, Atlanta, Athens and Gainesville, but ground temperatures were too warm for any accumulation.

More rain is forecast for today and Friday along with some snow in the far north Georgia mountains and a possible light wintry mix as far south as Columbus and Macon, the Weather Service said.

The LaGrange outlook is for highs in the 40s today through Sunday.

The chance of rain is about 60 percent each day — including a slight chance of a snow/rain mix Friday morning — before clearing Friday night.

The mercury should dip to the lower 30s tonight, then fall to the mid-20s Friday through Sunday nights.

Sunny skies are likely beginning Saturday, followed by a warming trend Monday.

Normal temperature extremes in LaGrange this time of year are 58 and 36.