A cold Christmas is expected this weekend, but not before we get to a brief break from the seasonal climes,

Temperatures, in fact, could reach as high as minus three on Thursday.

With the warmer air, said Meteorologist Terri Lang with Environment and Climate Change Canada, comes snow. 

"So we will see a couple of weather systems move through Wednesday, Thursday, and bringing that chance of snow with it," she noted. "It doesn't look like too much in the way of accumulation or anything like that, but just sort of something to keep an eye on."

Lang said minus three is going "to feel sort of balmy compared to what we've been having". 

"However, after that, after another system goes through late Thursday into Friday, we're going to see a real gradual slide into some colder temperatures," she explained. "So Christmas does look quite cold, and it'll continue cold probably all of next week into the new Year."

Blustery conditions including snow and blowing snow expected for Friday, Christmas Eve, she said, will make for some tricky driving. 

And let's not forget how cold it's going to be getting by Christmas morning.

"Overnight lows probably close to minus 25 or so, but wind chill is probably taking it into sort of the minus 30 range and keeping cold for Christmas Day," Lang expounded. 

She said those flurries could continue well into Christmas day, so those who are traveling should dress warm and drive for the conditions.