FIRST ALERT: Changes begin Friday as weather turns much colder and wetter for the weekend

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - A cold front starts to deliver major changes to the weather on Friday and sets the stage for a colder and wetter Easter weekend.

TONIGHT

Tonight will feature another round of mild weather along with thickening clouds. Temperatures will only drop into the middle 60s as a southerly wind continues to push mild and humid weather into the region.

FRIDAY

The changes for the weekend begin on Good Friday as a cold front drops through the area from north to south through the day. Temperatures will climb into the lower 70s by the middle of the day but then will begin to drop through the afternoon and into the evening and the cold front moves through. The warmest part of the day on Friday will be around lunch. By the late afternoon and evening, gusty northeast winds will develop and temperatures will drop through the 60s and into the 50s for most areas by dinner time.

Skies will turn mostly cloudy through the day with increasing chances of a few showers by the afternoon and evening. The best rain chances on Friday will be inland although showers will increase across the Grand Strand by later in the day.

EASTER WEEKEND FORECAST

Cooler air will continue to funnel into the area on breezy northeast winds Friday night and into Saturday. At the same time, moisture will begin streaming into the area from the south. The result will be an unseasonably cold and wet Saturday forecast. After starting the day in the upper 40s to near 50, temperatures will only climb a few degrees into the lower to middle 50s by Saturday afternoon.

Periods of light to moderate rain will fall off and on throughout the day with soaking rain likely at times. Off and on rain will continue through Saturday night with chilly temperatures in the 40s to near 50 continuing.

Easter Sunday will start off with lingering mist and drizzle and light rain that slowly tapers off through the day. The latest model data this morning keeps the rain chances around through at least the first half of the day. A few breaks in those showers should arrive by the afternoon plans on Sunday. We will still remain cloudy Sunday afternoon with highs in the lower 60s.