Ol’ Man Winter has found Vicksburg for the first time this year – just in time to usher in December.

The temperature at sunrise was 30 degrees, a full 40-degree drop from Thursday afternoon’s 70.

&#8220I’m debating if I want to go get my heavier coat out,” said Jesse Hall, who was working at the 61 North Super Lube in gloves, longjohns, a sweatshirt and a coat. &#8220It’s pretty cold this morning,” he said with a shiver.

The cold front came in overnight, and the temperature steadily dropped after the sun set.

LaTonya McKennie, who was bundling up her 6-year-old son, Fred Gaskin Jr., to wait for the school bus this morning, said the strong winds woke her during the night.

She said she immediately thought to herself, &#8220It is going to be cold in the morning.”

And it was.

This morning’s reading was much higher than the record low of 22 for this day in 1885, but the contrast is what had everybody talking.

With a predicted low of 27 tonight, local merchants and Christmas parade organizers are hoping the cold weather might give people a full dose of the Christmas spirit.

&#8220I think people will come to the parade regardless of the temperature, but they’ll just have to bundle up this year,” said Erin Hern, assistant director of Main Street Program, which is staging Saturday’s 5 p.m. event. &#8220I remember it being warmer last year. I think it definitely helps put people in the spirit when it’s colder weather, though.”

Robert Hulsey, wrapped in a hooded camouflage jumpsuit and warm gloves, was ready to fight the cold as he prepped Christmas trees to be sold at Hale’s Fireworks tent on East Clay Street.

&#8220We were pretty slow until last night when the storm blew through,” Hulsey said. &#8220Just as I was trying to prevent the tent from blowing away, people showed up ready to pick out a tree.”

The 12-hour change was welcome, Hulsey said.

&#8220It’s really been too warm for people to be in the holiday spirit. But today, it’s not,” he said.