Spring-like temperatures on tap for Saturday; more cold and maybe snow next week

Get your outdoor activities in on Saturday, Philadelphia — a look at next week's forecast means a weekend warm-up will soon be followed by a return to layers, gloves, and hats.

The National Weather Service is calling for some much-needed warmth this weekend before showers make their way into the region on Sunday and lows dip back to below freezing, with chances of snow next week.

Saturday will be sunny with a high expected in the upper 50s. However, it might not be the best day to throw the ball around — winds could reach up to 25 mph, according to the Weather Service. The low will drop to the upper 40s at night, when rain that's expected to last through Sunday should start.

While up to a quarter-inch of precipitation could fall Sunday, temperatures should be just as mild as Saturday, with a high in the mid-50s expected. The low will reach the mid-30s.

Monday will be partly sunny with a high in the upper 40s before the mercury drops to the 20s, making way for a possibility of snow.

The Weather Service said the chance of precipitation is 30 percent starting Monday night and lasting until Tuesday morning, with a high only slightly above freezing. Bundle up — Tuesday's low is seen as a chilly 18 degrees. AccuWeather predicts the snow will be nothing major for the Philadelphia area, with flurries possible in the early hours before the day becomes cloudy and breezy.

AccuWeather forecasters say a storm moving up from the South mixed with a push of cold air is responsible for the chance of snow early next week. Any snow is more likely to affect New York and North Jersey than Philadelphia..

"The trend has been for these features to join up faster and pull the southern storm closer to the coast," AccuWeather meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "At this point, people from New England to the upper mid-Atlantic coast should monitor the forecast for changes and potential snow from Monday night into Tuesday."

Wednesday and Thursday temperatures will be mild, though AccuWeather is calling for a possibility of rain Friday before a chance of snow later in the day.