Prepare to begin the New Year with a seasonal blast of winter weather.

The National Weather Service is calling for a pacific cold front to move through Arizona Wednesday and Thursday bringing rain and dropping daytime high temperatures to the upper 40s. Snow levels could fall to 2,500 feet, well within range of the McDowell Mountains along the western edge of Fountain Hills.

In the aftermath of this Canadian system some of the coldest temperatures of the season are expected Friday and into the weekend. It’s possible that lower desert temperatures could drop to between 20 and 30 degrees overnight, with the daytime highs barely reaching 50. This includes southwest and south central Arizona and the communities in parts of the greater Phoenix area. Freeze warnings are possible.

People wanting to protect sensitive plants should plan ahead to cover them, or bring them inside if possible. Keep pets indoors also.