After one more cold morning, forecasters promise a weekend warm-up

Meteorologist David Chandley has your Thursday afternoon weather forecast

The mercury dipped into the 20s early Thursday, and will likely do so again Friday morning, but afternoon temperatures will be in the 70s by Sunday.

Channel 2 meteorologist Karen Minton said afternoon readings will be “a bit uncomfortable” Thursday, topping out in the upper 40s.

Lows before daybreak Friday will be in the upper 20s, Minton said, with highs on Friday reaching the mid-50s.

There’s a 10 percent chance of rain Friday night, and that rain could be mixed with a little snow or sleet early Saturday across the northeast Georgia mountains, Minton said.

The weekend should be sunny, Minton said, with lows early Saturday in the upper 30s and highs Saturday in the low 60s.

Minton is forecasting highs Sunday in the low 70s after morning lows in the mid-40s.

Temperatures across metro Atlanta early Thursday were about 15 to 20 degrees below normal, ranging from 21 in Dallas and Cartersville and 23 in Alpharetta to 24 in Chamblee and Marietta and 25 in Peachtree City and at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Atlanta’s normal low for late February is 40, the normal high 60.