MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) – Residents of Rutherford County are bracing for a sharp plunge in temperatures as an Arctic cold front sweeps through Middle Tennessee starting Saturday night and intensifying through Monday morning.

According to the National Weather Service in Nashville, "brutal cold is on the way," with the coldest conditions expected Sunday night into Monday. Forecasters predict most likely overnight lows in the 8-12°F range across the region, including Murfreesboro, with a less likely but possible dip to 2-6°F in some spots. 

This frigid air could pose risks to vulnerable populations, pets, and exposed water pipes, the NWS warns. Officials urge residents to take precautions, such as bringing pets indoors, letting faucets drip to prevent freezing, and checking on elderly neighbors.

The timing couldn't be chillier for holiday festivities: The annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade, themed "A Sweet Christmas," is scheduled for Sunday (Dec. 14th), starting at 2 p.m. Parade-goers lining the route from Middle Tennessee State University down East Main Street through downtown should bundle up with heavy coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and blankets. Daytime highs on Sunday may struggle to reach the mid-20s, with 15mph wind, gusting to 25mph adding an extra bite.

This cold outbreak aligns with broader patterns of Arctic air invading the region, driven by shifts in the polar vortex.