A snow squall that took place in downtown Butler on Thursday will be eclipsed by wintry weekend weather.

Residents can expect precipitation across Butler County this weekend with low temperatures plunging the region into a freeze and possible bringing black ice on Sunday.

“We’re looking at a rather unfortunate mixed bag with freezing rain, snow and sleet,” said Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, adding the chance of precipitation is 100 percent for Saturday.

The service expects a wintery combination of snow and sleet, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 1 p.m. Saturday. Much of the rest of the day will see rain and snow trading places with a high near 41 degrees. Along with all this, winds could gust as high as 25 mph, bringing new snow and sleet with an accumulation of another 2 to 4 inches.

“Saturday afternoon’s warmer weather will turn everything into a mess,” Hendricks said.

According to Hendricks, rain and snow showers will likely continue between 10 p.m. and midnight Saturday, with everything switching to snow showers likely after midnight with a low around 18 degrees. Strong wind gusts are expected to continue as high as 28 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Hendricks noted that the wind chill will make the temperature drop to 5 to 10 degrees Saturday night into Sunday.

Sunday’s high will reach just 22 degrees as the cloudy day is expected to bring wind gusts as high as 28 mph. The day’s chance of precipitation is much lower than Saturday — 20 percent — and the low will be around 15 degrees, according to the forecast.

Next week begins cold with a possible low Tuesday night of just 12 degrees, but temperatures are expected to warm up Wednesday into the mid-30s.

The cause of the frigid temperatures, Hendricks said, is from a front that swept through the region Thursday with the cold air only now hitting the area. Hendricks said the “active weather pattern” will continue as a storm system moves south through the Great Lakes region.

“Everybody’s been wondering, ‘Where’s winter? Where’s winter?’ And it’s here. I’m sure everybody would like to give it back now,” Hendricks said.

By Thursday, temperatures will be back up to 40 degrees. “You’ll see people running around in their shorts,” Hendricks quipped. “That’s Western Pennsylvania weather for you.”