Big Country residents may have been checking their calendars this morning. Temperatures felt more like December than mid-October.

Temperatures lingered in the low 50s this morning and registered just 48 degrees on the wind chill index.

Early this morning, the low was 51 degrees -- accompanied by light rain, fog and mist, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures were expected to warm in the afternoon with an expected high of 63 today.

The Abilene area retains a 40 percent chance of showers today, decreasing to a 20 percent chance of rain tonight.

The low tonight should again be chilly -- at just 50 degrees.

By Thursday, clearing skies are expected with a high near 71 degrees but with a north northeast wind between 10 and 15 mph, according to the NWS. The low Thursday night is expected to dip to 49 degrees.

Warmer temperatures are expected by the weekend, a high near 75 on Friday and 76 on Saturday under sunny skies both days. Sunday should be mostly sunny with a high near 79. -- Staff Report