Fort Wayne residents traded heavy coats for t-shirts this week as temperatures soared into the lower 70s, but the spring roller coaster is about to flip again. A strong cold front arrives Saturday night, plunging highs back into the 40s by Sunday with rain and gusty winds.

The warm spell peaks Friday with a high near 73 degrees, tying or breaking the March 20 record of 72 set in 2012.

First Alert Meteorologist Caleb Saylor says the warmth ends abruptly.

“This is classic March whiplash,” Saylor explained Thursday evening on 21Alive. “We have a strong upper-level ridge pumping warm air from the Gulf of Mexico right now, but a deep trough digs in this weekend. Temperatures will fall 25 to 30 degrees in less than 24 hours.”

Record-Chasing Warmth Right Now

Thursday’s high reached 71 at Fort Wayne International Airport by 4 p.m., already 26 degrees above the normal March 20 high of 47.

Neighborhoods across 21Country reported similar numbers. New Haven hit 72, Columbia City touched 70, and Angola reached 69.

People wasted no time enjoying it. Summit Middle School students played basketball outside at recess. Dog parks stayed packed past sunset. Lines formed at Knight’s Ice Cream on Bluffton’s Main Street.

The Weekend Plunge: Exact Timing

The cold front crosses Fort Wayne between 8 p.m. and midnight Saturday.

Rain develops ahead of it Saturday afternoon, becoming likely after 6 p.m. Some embedded thunderstorms are possible, especially south of Route 30.

Behind the front, temperatures crash.

• Sunday high: only 46 degrees (occurring at midnight Saturday night)
• Sunday afternoon readings: upper 30s with wind chills in the 20s
• Monday morning low: 29 degrees with a chance of snow flurries

“This will feel like February again,” Saylor said.

Extended Forecast: Slow Warm-Up Next Week

The chill sticks around through Tuesday before another warm-up begins mid-week.

Here is the latest 21Alive First Alert 7-day outlook:

Why These Swings Keep Happening

Fort Wayne sits in the battleground between warm Gulf air and cold Canadian air masses during spring. When the jet stream buckles, dramatic temperature changes become common.

The city has recorded a 50-degree temperature swing in a single day three times since 2012, including March 11-12, 2024 when the temperature fell from 74 to 24 in 18 hours.

This weekend’s drop will be nearly as dramatic.

What Residents Should Do Now

Local allergists report tree pollen counts already in the high range thanks to the early warmth. Doctors urge people with allergies to start medications now before the weekend wind stirs everything up again.

Farmers in Wells and Adams counties rushed to spread fertilizer Thursday and Friday before fields turn too wet Saturday night.

Homeowners who opened windows this week should close them by Saturday morning. Temperatures inside could drop quickly once the front passes.

The sudden 30-degree drop also increases the risk of pipes bursting if homes cool too fast. Experts recommend leaving cabinets under sinks open and letting faucets drip Saturday night.

Spring in Indiana never plays nice, but this weekend serves a harsh reminder that winter has not surrendered yet. One day you’re washing the car in shorts, the next you’re scraping frost again.

Bundle up Sunday, Fort Wayne. The roller coaster is heading down fast.

What has this week’s weather whiplash been like for you? Tell us in the comments and tag friends who got caught wearing flip-flops too soon.